Indexes of natural selection in Kharkiv population

Abstract

Aim. Reproductive behavior of women has particular importance in the reproduction of the population and depends on cultural characteristics and religious views. Number of birth and medical abortions become artificially regulated; nevertheless selection in human populations does not disappear. Therefore, the aim of this task to study the direction and intensity of indexes of natural selection and the dynamics of the gene pool in the Kharkiv population for two adjacent generations. Methods. The material was collected in 2017. Anonymous questionnaires were conducted for women in postreproductive age. The questionnaire includes questions which reflect a woman's gynecological and obstetrical anamnesis. The number of pregnancies and their outcomes was calculated: medical and spontaneous abortions, ectopic pregnancies, number of stillbirths and live births. Results. In one generation, the total selection index decrease from 0.29 to 0.28, while the differential fertility index is much higher than the differential mortality index. The average number of pregnancies and medical abortions reduced in the younger generation with statistically significant difference. Conclusions. The Kharkov population is characterized by a narrow type of reproduction. The dynamics of Crow's indexes are in line with global trends. From the older generation to the younger the total selection index decreases gradually.Keywords: reproductive characteristics,Kharkov population, Crow's index, selection, generations.