IGOR EFREMOV: RESTRICTIONS ON INDUCED ABORTION WILL NOT INCREASE BIRTH RATES

Igor Efremov, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute, commented to the Nizhny Novgorod Novoe Delo newspaper on the draft bill under consideration regarding stricter abortions in private clinics.

In the Nizhny Novgorod region, a draft regional law prohibiting abortion in private clinics has passed through first reading. The steering social affairs committee approved the ban, but recommended to give up shortening of the pregnancy period, when abortion is still possible and keep it the same, i.e. 12 weeks. However, this initiative did not find support among the population and caused an outcry. According to people, these measures will result in criminal abortions and increase in complications after surgery.

Igor Efremov noted that to date, induced abortion requested by women without medical evidence makes up a smaller proportion of abortions in Russia, less than 10%. “Banning such procedures in private medical institutions, as well as other new access restrictions are likely to result in the forced postponement of abortions to later pregnancy periods, which can cause more harm to females’ health and exacerbates the risk of further development of secondary infertility,” the expert believes.