АБОРТ КАК МЕДИКО-СОЦИАЛЬНАЯ ПРОБЛЕМА В ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯХ СТУДЕНТОВ-МЕДИКОВ

Abstract

Problem of abortions in today socio-demographic situation in Russia remains very urgent. Despite the tendency of decreasing rate of abortions in the last years, social acceptance of abortion as the method of birth control remains actual in public consciousness. The purpose of research was to evaluate the attitudes of medical students to abortion, awareness about health risks associated with abortion, its acceptable reasons and potential consequences, to detect the differences in perception of rights for abortion by respondents of different gender groups. The survey conducted in 150 medical students showed that more than half of respondents (51,3%) had acquaintances who had made at least one abortion. 45,3% of respondents consider possible to make an abortion in case of unwanted pregnancy, there were no any differences detected in male and female respondents. 49,3% of students can make an abortion at the certain circumstances. Only 5,4% of respondents would not accept abortion under any circumstances. For all respondents regardless of age and gender the most important factors taken into account while making a decision about abortion include the period of gestation (70,7%), method of abortion (64%), financial problems (57,3%). For young respondents under age 20 the most important factor is the opinion of a spouse or partner, while for respondents above age 20 the most significant reason is the necessity to finish education. The most frequent negative consequences of abortions according to opinion of medical students are psychological distress, risk of infertility and complications of future pregnancies. Results of the study demonstrate quite high acceptance of abortions by future physicians despite their awareness about the problem of abortions and knowledge of associated health risks.