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Research article2021Peer reviewedOpen access

Indigenous women's reproductive health in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia: challenges and solutions

Bogdanova, Elena; Andronov, Sergei; Lobanov, Andrey; Kochkin, Ruslan; Popov, Andrei; Morell, Ildiko Asztalos; Odland, JonOyvind

Abstract

In the Russian Arctic, alarming trends (shortage of nomadic Indigenous women, high reproductive loss, child mortality rates) indicate long-term changes towards demographic decline. This study aimed at comparing some indicators of the reproductive health (childbirth rates, number of pregnancies, pregnancy loss) of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in the exploration of cultural and social factors influencing reproductive behaviour. A multidisciplinary approach draws on methods of medicine, sociology and health economics. It includes data of the women's reproductive health collected from surveys of 879 women (of whom 627 were Indigenous) during expeditions to the settlements and the tundra of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in 2013-2019. In the tundra, 66.7% of registered Indigenous women's pregnancies resulted in childbirth, 7.8% in induced abortions, 25.5% in spontaneous miscarriage. More than three children were delivered by 59.1% of Indigenous women. Most Indigenous families suffered from high pregnancy loss. Marriage between close relatives was 27.0%. Child mortality equalled 24.4%, three times higher than in the population of the settlements and eight times higher than in families immigrating from other regions. The survival of Indigenous peoples significantly depends on women's reproductive health and sufficient medical service that requires targeted policy.

Keywords

Women’s health; reproductive health; reproductive loss; child mortality; pregnancy; indigenous peoples; the Arctic; western Siberia; yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Published in

International Journal of Circumpolar Health
2021, Volume: 80, number: 1, article number: 1855913
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

    Associated SLU-program

    SLU Future One Health
    SLU Future Food
    Sámi and reindeer husbandry related research

    Sustainable Development Goals

    Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
    Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2020.1855913

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/109462