Moscow. Authorities are worried that the more than 10 million annual abortions have had unwelcome effects on women’s health.
Medical demographer, A. A. Popov said: “The current abortion rate is a major factor in determining the incidence of gynecological diseases and childless marriages, infant mortality, miscarriages and child morbidity. Lowering the abortion rate would have a colossal effect on public health.”
There are more than two abortions for every live birth in the Soviet Union. Abortion clinics are state run and charge five rubles (about $12.50). Many Soviet women have four to five abortions, some as many as 20.
