Women's reproductive health in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

Abstract

According to the Russian National Population Census from October 9, 2002, the resident population of Yakutia was 949,300. Of the total population, 365,200 were of Yakut ethnicity. This means that Yakutia failed to retain its status as a region of more than 1 million residents. In the previous census, from 1989, the population was 1,094,100. This population decline is associated with a large rate of emigration, as well as a decrease in the rate of natural increase. In 2002, the total fertility rate was 2.53 births per woman in rural areas and 1.56 in urban areas, compared with the figure necessary for population replacement – 2.23 births per woman. In rural areas, the total fertility rate remained sufficient for replacement of parents in the population by their children. In Russia as a whole, the total fertility rate was 1.32 births per woman. A number of regions in Central Russia had an even lower total fertility rate – 1.1 births per woman. In difficult economic times, the reproductive health of the indigenous Northern peoples, including men, and particularly in Yakutia, is cause for legitimate concern. (Published: 30 October 2014) Citation: Int J Circumpolar Health 2014, 73: 25872 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v73.25872