Low Birth Rate Research Articles

How educational inequality affects family multichild behavior—evidence from super high schools

In a context characterized by the dual issues of educational inequality and problems with fertility, the internal relationship between these two factors requires further in-depth exploration. On the basis of data drawn from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2010 to 2018, this paper investigates whether “super high schools” in cities represent a form of educational inequality, uses a combination of a two-way fixed effect model with the instrumental variable method to discuss the influence of this situation on family fertility and the corresponding transmission mechanism, develops a proportional risk regression model, and expands our understanding of the influence of educational inequality on the second-child birth interval. This study reveals that educational inequality significantly suppresses the number of family births and that the paths of action associated with this effect include both the explicit and implicit costs of education. The inhibitory effect of educational inequality on the number of family births varies according to urban grade, urban or rural classification, and the education levels attained by women. In addition to decreasing the number of family births, educational inequality increases the second-child birth interval. This paper not only enriches related research on family multichild behavior but also provides an educational reference for attempts to address the issue of continuously low fertility rates in China and establish a connection between population and educational economics.

The epidemiological declining in the human fertility rate in the arab world for 10 years period 2011–2021

Recently, there has been worldwide growing interest on profiling the human fertility of populations because there has been a noticeable global decline in fertility rate, leading to increased attention toward reproductive health and fertility.The decline in fertility of population of the Arab World was investigated for the 10 years period between 2011–2021. The Arab World was classified into three regional blocks; Block-1 Arabian Peninsula countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen. Block-2 Fertile Crescent Arab countries: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and Gaza. Block-3 African Arab countries: Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia. Data on fertility rates for the 10 years period between 2011–2021 were collected from the World Bank for Arab countries. Statistical analysis along with decline in the fertility rates were determined. Results: Fertility rates varied across Arab countries in 2011 and 2021, with notable decline ranging from 24.3% to 3.8%, except for Algeria, with zero decline. Countries that exhibited significant decline were Jordan (24.3%) followed by Iraq (22.2%) then Yemen (19.1%); Whereas, countries that exhibited slight fertility decline were Libya (3.8%), followed by Tunisia (4.5%), Lebanon (4.5%) and Kuwait (4.5%). On another note, lowest fertility rate was observed in UAE as maintained between 1.7% and 1.5% and the highest fertility rate was observed in Somalia as maintained between 7.3% and 6.3% for 2011 and 2021 respectively. Conclusion: The present study reveals the declining-trend in fertility rate across Arab countries, influenced by variable factors. Therefore, we recommend to the Council of the Health Ministries in the Arab-League to focus on investigating the fertility decline as an important parameter for public health in the Arab world to maintain natural balanced fertility rate.As some non-biological factors surrounding the Arabian region, such as instability, war, migration, the present study did not aim to include the influence of war and migration on fertility because both war and migration are non-biological external factors and both are not among the WHO criteria for fertility determination which based of the population growth rate of population under normal living conditions.

Projecting future excess deaths associated with extreme precipitation events in China under changing climate: an integrated modelling study

Climate-change-induced extreme precipitation events have attracted global attention; however, the associated excess deaths burden has been insufficiently explored and remains unclear. We first defined an extreme precipitation event for each county when the daily total precipitation exceeded the county-specific 99·5th percentile of the daily precipitation from 1986 to 2005; then we estimated the associations between extreme precipitation events and cause-specific deaths in 280 Chinese counties using a two-stage time-series model. Second, we projected the excess deaths related to extreme precipitation events by combining the bias-corrected multi-model precipitation predictions derived under different combined emission-population scenarios of three representative concentration pathways (RCPs; RCP2·6, RCP4·5, and RCP8·5) and three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP2, a business-as-usual scenario) populations (S1, low fertility rate; S2, medium fertility rate; and S3, high fertility rate). We quantified the climate and population contributions to the changes of future excess deaths nationwide and by climatic zones. Compared with the non-extreme precipitation days, the percentage increase of deaths associated with exposure to extreme precipitation days is 13·0% (95% CI 7·0-19·3) for accidental cause, 4·3% (2·0-6·6) for circulatory disease, and 6·8% (2·8-10·9) for respiratory disease. The number of annual average excess deaths related to extreme precipitation events during 1986-2005 was 2644 (95% CI 1496-3730) for accidental cause, 69 (33-105) for circulatory disease, and 181 (79-279) for respiratory disease. In the 2030s, the total number of excess deaths of these three causes will increase by 1244 (43%), 1756 (61%), and 2008 (69%) under RCP2·6, RCP4·5, and RCP8·5 scenarios combined with a medium-fertility-rate population (SSP2-S2), respectively, but will decrease by 3% under RCP2·6-SSP2-S2 and increase by 25% under RCP8·5-SSP2-S2 in the 2090s. Humid and water-limited regions in subtropical, middle-temperate, and plateau climate zones will face highly increased risks. Climate and population factors contributed disproportionally among the five climate zones. This study is the largest integrated projection exploring the disease burden associated with extreme precipitation events. The excess deaths will be amplified by climate and population changes. Improving mitigation and adaptation capacities is crucial when responding to precipitation extremes. National Natural Science Foundation of China and Wellcome Trust.

The Fertility Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Structural Change.

Despite recent economic growth and reductions in child mortality in many African countries, the region has experienced a slow fertility transition. In this study, we explore whether the slow structural economic change on the continent can explain this discrepancy. We construct a unique panel dataset combining Demographic and Health Surveys and nighttime light intensity data (an indicator of industrialization) from 57 countries at the subnational region level over three decades to analyze the drivers of fertility transitions across low- and middle-income countries. Our results confirm that household wealth, reduced child mortality, and female primary education are crucial for fertility declines. However, our analysis also highlights the importance of indicators of structural economic change, including the share of labor in nonagricultural occupations, industrialization, the share of women with higher education, and the formalization of the economy. Our simulations suggest that if high-fertility countries in sub-Saharan Africa underwent structural economic transformations comparable to those of other low- and middle-income countries with low fertility rates, their fertility levels could fall by 1 to 1.6 children.

Mediating Effect of Principals’ Perceived Workplace Hope on the Relationship Between Workplace Savoring Beliefs and Workplace Resilience

In recent years, principals have been challenged in their school operations by the low birth rate, the promotion of significant education policies, and changes in the power structure of schools in Taiwan. These problems once caused a retirement boom among principals, significantly affecting educational development. Past research on principals’ school operations has focused chiefly on external policies and related support systems, but rarely examined the psychological aspects of the principals themselves. Based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotion, this study explored the relationship among principals’ workspace savoring beliefs, principals’ perceived workplace hope, and workplace resilience. A total of 302 principals (66 females, 236 males, with an average age of 55.6 years) from Taiwanese senior high schools completed the paper-based questionnaire. The study results indicate that both principals’ workplace savoring beliefs and workplace hope positively impacted workplace resilience and that perceived workplace hope partially mediated between workplace savoring beliefs and workplace resilience. This study makes specific recommendations for educational authorities, principals, and subsequent research directions based on the above conclusions.

Progestin-primed ovarian stimulation

The use of progestins for the prevention of premature ovulation during ovarian stimulation is called progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS). Response to ovarian stimulation with PPOS and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs seem to be similar with the clinically insignificant differences being explained by endocrine characteristics as expected. PPOS has the advantage of oral administration and lower medication cost than GnRH analogs, but the mandatory cancellation of an otherwise possible fresh embryo transfer can render PPOS less cost-effective if a fresh transfer would have been possible. Oocytes collected in PPOS cycles have similar developmental potential, including blastocyst euploidy rates. Frozen embryo transfer outcomes of PPOS and GnRH analog cycles seem similar both in terms of ongoing pregnancy/live birth rates and obstetric and perinatal outcomes. While some studies reported lower cumulative live birth rates with PPOS, they suffer from methodological issues, including arbitrary definitions of cumulative live birth rates. PPOS has been used in all patient types with consistent results and seems a patient-friendly and cost-effective choice when a fresh embryo transfer is not intended.

Protein Modifications During Early Embryo Development.

Infertility is a global reproductive health burden. Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have been widely used to help patients become pregnant. Few embryos develop to the blastocyst stage with ARTs, leading to relatively low live birth rates. Protein modifications play crucial roles in nearly every aspect of cell biology, including reproductive processes. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of protein modifications during embryonic development. Proteomic data from humans and mice were acquired from the integrated proteome resources (iProX) of ProteomeXchange (PXD024267) and a tandem mass tag (TMT)-mass spectrometry dataset. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were applied for functional annotation. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of the modification-related genes were revealed by the STRING database. Modified proteins during mouse embryogenesis were visualized through heatmaps of hierarchically clustering using k-means. We identified modification-related proteins in human embryo development and characterized them through heatmaps, GO analysis, KEGG analysis, and PPI network analysis. We found that the 4-cell stage to the 8-cell stage might be the demarcation period for modification-related protein expression patterns during embryo development. Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we elucidated the methylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination events that occur during mouse embryogenesis to validate our findings in human embryonic development to some extent. The results of our study suggest that the posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of human preimplantation embryos might exhibit the same trends as those in mice to exert synergistic and fine-tuned regulatory effects during embryonic development.

Metformin reverses infertility in a mouse model of endometriosis: unveiling disease pathways and implications for future clinical approaches

Research QuestionDoes metformin reverse endometriosis-associated infertility? DesignEndometriosis was induced by transplanting endometrial tissue fragments from B6CBAF1 mice into the same strain female recipients. Mice were divided into groups: Endometriosis-End (n=24), Sham-operated (n=12), Endometriosis with orally administrated metformin during 3 months (0,5mg/ml)-EndMet (n=21), and Sham-operated metformin-treated-ShamMet (n=16). Half of mice per group was used for fertility studies. Implant growth was monitored by ultrasound and serum estradiol, glucose, and cholesterol (total, LDL, HDL) levels were assessed. Fibrosis was quantified in Masson's trichrome-stained sections of eutopic-Eu and ectopic-Ec endometrial tissue by computer-assisted analysis. PCNA, CYP17a1, F4/80 and galectin-3 were analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting; NFkB, GPX-1 and HO-1 only by Western blotting. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. ResultsThe endometriosis model was successfully established. End animals showed lower fertility rates than sham-operated mice, whereas metformin treatment increased the number of fetuses per pregnant mouse, restoring fertility to control levels, besides reducing implant growth and vascularization. Ectopic endometrial tissue resembled eutopic counterpart but showed increased PCNA levels and fibrosis that decreased after metformin treatment. PCNA expression decreased in pregnant mice. Metformin diminished CYP17a1 expression in EuEnd and on the contrary upregulated F4/80, galectin-3, NFkB and antioxidant enzymes, HO-1 and GPX-1, in non-mated mice. ConclusionsThese results emphasize metformin's application, even in a subtherapeutic dose, to alleviate oxidative stress and to mitigate endometriosis lesions fibrosis in a murine model of endometriosis. The study highlights metformin's potential as a pharmacological intervention for improving infertility in endometriosis, reinforcing its promising contribution to reproductive health.

The Urgent Call for Academic Action: Rebooting SDGs to Reset Our Future

This manuscript, presented at GEEF2024, emphasizes the critical role of academia in revitalizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address current global challenges. The SDGs, adopted in 2015, aim to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development by 2030. However, progress has stalled due to financial constraints, governance issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical crises such as the Russian–Ukraine war. The COVID-19 pandemic has had multifaceted impacts, reversing poverty reduction trends and disrupting education and energy investments. It has also exacerbated social inequalities, leading to the conceptualization of COVID-19 as a syndemic, an ecodemic, and an econodemic. These terms highlight the pandemic's complex interplay with preexisting health issues, environmental degradation, and economic disparities. Geopolitical crises have further hindered SDG progress by disrupting food and energy supplies and diverting resources from sustainable development initiatives. Climate change, marked by unprecedented heatwaves and natural disasters, poses additional threats to achieving the SDGs. The need for carbon neutrality and effective international cooperation is more urgent than ever before. In this context, universities play a crucial role in advancing the SDGs through research, innovation, and community engagement. Engaged universities align their research agendas with the SDGs, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and developing solutions to global challenges. Yonsei University's Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment (IGEE) exemplifies this approach with its Yonsei SDGs Initiative. By analyzing research outputs via natural language processing, the initiative aligns academic activities with SDGs, particularly in health and well-being. The GEEF2024 conference underscored the importance of innovative strategies and international cooperation in achieving the SDGs. Discussions highlighted the need to address mental health crises, low birth rates, and the care economy's undervaluation. The conference also emphasized the necessity of inclusive development strategies that reflect the perspectives and priorities of Africa and Asia.In conclusion, universities must integrate social engagement into their core missions to remain relevant and impactful. By prioritizing research, teaching, and services that contribute to sustainable development, academia can play a pivotal role in overcoming global challenges and achieving the SDGs.

Analysis of Parents' Perception of Education and Care Policies Vis-à-Vis the Government's Plan to Reverse the Low Birth Rate Trend

Analysis of Parents' Perception of Education and Care Policies Vis-à-Vis the Government's Plan to Reverse the Low Birth Rate Trend

Clinical and statistical analysis of the course of preterm birth based on the materials of communal enterprise «Regional Perinatal Center of the Rivne Regional Council» in 2013–2023 years

One of the priority tasks of modern medical science and practice is the preservation of reproductive health and the gene pool of the nation. It is especially difficult to perform this task during the russian war in Ukraine, which has been going on for more than ten years. According to sociologists, the outcomes of a low birth rate for the country will be catastrophic precisely because of the war.One of the reasons for the decline in the quality of health in the future is the increase in the specific weight of premature births, the frequency of which, according to the World Health Organization, has increased in Ukraine already after six months of full-scale war.The objective: to conduct an analysis of the course of premature births in the conditions of war based on the materials of the communal enterprise (CE) “Regional Perinatal Center of the Rivne Regional Council” for 2013–2023.Materials and methods. A retrospective clinical and statistical analysis of 2,742 histories of pregnancy and childbirth of women who were in labor between 22/0–36/6 weeks of gestation in obstetric departments of the communal enterprise “Regional Perinatal Center of the Rivne Regional Council” in 2013–2023 was carried out.Results. According to CE “Regional Perinatal Center of the Rivne Regional Council”, a progressive decrease in the total number of births by 41.9% was observed in the Rivne Region from 2013 to 2023. At the same time, in the general population of women giving birth, the specific rate of premature births did not have a tendency to increase.In the structure of preterm births, early and late preterm births prevailed. The specific gravity of very early preterm births, which are the most unfavorable for perinatal outcomes, did not have a sustained upward trend. At the same time, the frequency of too early premature births among residents of districts and territorial communities of the Rivne region has significantly increased (2013 – 19 (79.2%) cases, 2023 – 17 (100.0%) cases; p&lt;0.05).Every second premature birth occurred within the first day of hospitalization of a pregnant woman, while the specific rate of such too early premature births increased by 3.4 times during the analyzed period, which significantly worsens the chances of survival of newborns and is the reason for their high perinatal morbidity.The number of premature births in pregnant women with multiple pregnancies remains stable. Every third preterm birth took place on the background of early premature rupture of the fetal membranes, while a significant increase in the frequency of this complication was found in women who gave birth at 22/0–27/6 weeks of pregnancy.Traditionally, the specific rate (55.7–57.5%) of surgical delivery by caesarean section of pregnant women and mothers with premature births remains high, which contributed to a reliable reduction of the perinatal mortality rate of premature babies by 13.7% due to the reduction of antenatal losses. Indicators of early neonatal death were formed at the expense of newborns from too early and early premature births in the same ratio.Conclusions. According to thedata of CE “Regional Perinatal Center of the Rivne Regional Council”, there was a progressive decrease in the birth rate in the Rivne Region with a simultaneous stabilization of the number of premature births. The widespread use of a holistic approach during the medical care of pregnant women and the introduction of modern methods of care for premature newborns ensured a significant decrease in the rate of perinatal death of premature infants due to the reduction of antenatal losses.

Analysis of Low Birth Rate Determinants with Regional Data in South Korea

Analysis of Low Birth Rate Determinants with Regional Data in South Korea

South Korea’s existential public health emergency: Tackling the low birth rate, loneliness, and suicide crisis

South Korea is facing a critical public health emergency characterized by a rapidly declining birth rate, increasing loneliness, and high suicide rates. The fertility rate dropped to 0.72 children per woman in 2023, significantly below the OECD average. This decline is attributed to economic burdens, gender inequality, and changing societal norms. If these trends continue, the youth population could halve by 2040 compared to 2023, severely impacting the nation’s economy and demographic structure. Simultaneously, loneliness has become a significant issue, with over a third of Koreans living alone and a rise in deaths from isolation, particularly among middle-aged and older men. South Korea also faces a severe mental health crisis, marked by high rates of depression and the highest suicide rate among OECD countries for the past 25 years. Troublingly, recent trends indicate an increase in suicides among younger age groups. Efforts to address these issues have included government initiatives for mental health support, but these remain underfunded and insufficient compared to international standards. Additionally, the stigma surrounding mental health persists. South Korea can learn from countries like Japan and the UK, which have implemented successful interventions focusing on social integration and mental health. Addressing these intertwined crises requires collective action and a robust policy response to ensure a sustainable future for South Korea.

Differential Impact of Fertility on Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy of Older Adults Across Countries of Various Levels of Socio-Demographic Index - Worldwide, 1995-2019.

Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) is a crucial indicator of global health, which is strongly correlated with the socio-demographic index (SDI) and population dynamics. This study revealed that the correlation between total fertility rate (TFR) and HALE of older adults varies across countries with different SDI levels, offering valuable insights for the development of more targeted health promotion programs and interventions. Different health interventions should be tailored to countries with different levels of SDI. In countries with both low fertility rates and low SDI, advanced measures are needed to address the challenge of an aging population that may live longer but face poorer health in the future.

A Critical Analysis on the Low Birth Rate Problem and the Effectiveness of Relevant Policy

This paper discusses the importance of the birth rate problem and the effectiveness of Chinas Three-Child policy. In order to efficiently elaborate problems, this paper analyses the issue from several perspectives. Firstly, a declining birth rate will have a negative impact on the global and domestic economic development due to the decrease in labour force. Secondly, this paper suggests that the key reason for this declining birth rate is the rising economic pressure on young people. This paper finds that China, Japan, and South Korea face the same low birth rate problem. Hence, this paper investigates the different wage levels and house prices among these East Asian countries and elaborates on the relationship associated with declining birth rates. Furthermore, this paper also discusses how to ensure the successful implementation of the Three-Child policy, and what effect the social welfare and the Three-Child policy can bring to help the society and the economy.

Bevaikystė ir požiūris į rūpinimąsi vyresnio amžiaus tėvais Lietuvoje

In rapidly ageing societies, caring and responsibilities for parents in old age is a widely discussed topic. This is particularly relevant in societies with low fertility and high rates of childlessness. Lithuania is one of the countries where demographic ageing rates have risen sharply in a short period of time. This process has been driven not only by low fertility but also by emigration of middle-aged and young people and increasing life expectancy. There is no lack of research on demographic changes in ageing societies in the country, but very little is known about the attitudes of childless men and women towards caring for their parents in old age. The aim of the study is to determine the attitudes of childless and child-bearing individuals towards parental responsibilities in Lithuania. Our analysis is based on the 2018-2019 ‘Families and Inequality Survey’ dataset collected in Lithuania. The data covers 3,005 individuals aged 34-48 at the time of the survey. The representative sample was obtained by using a stratified sampling method. Face-to-face interviews were carried out with respondents in their homes by using a standardized questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square methods. We found that the proportion of men (12.0%) who do not want to have children is statistically significantly higher (p=0.003) than the proportion of women (7.6%). We found that childless people were less likely than those with children to agree with the statement that children should look after their parents. In addition, women were more likely than men to agree with these statements. Our findings are important from a practical point of view – when considering social care and pronatalist policy measures. Research project is financially supported by the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No. P-MIP-22-24.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Unraveling Its Imperative Impact on Male Infertility Based on Recent Evidence.

Male factors may be present in up to 50-70% of infertile couples and the prevalence of male infertility accounts for 20-30% of infertility cases. Understanding the mechanisms and causes behind male infertility remains a challenge, but new diagnostic tools such as DNA fragmentation might aid in cases where the routine semen analysis is insufficient. DNA fragmentation, which refers to damages or breaks of the genetic material of the spermatozoa, is considered one of the main causes of male infertility due to impaired functional capability of sperm. The aim of the present narrative review is to investigate and enlighten the potential correlation between DNA fragmentation and male infertility parameters such as the seminal profile and the reproductive outcomes. Comprehensive research in PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases was conducted and 28 studies were included in the present review. Fourteen studies provided data regarding the impact of DNA fragmentation and seminal parameters and showed a correlation of significantly lower sperm count, lower concentration, motility, and abnormal morphology with an increased DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Similarly, 15 studies provided data regarding the impact of DFI on reproductive outcomes. Two studies showed higher aneuploidy rates with higher DFI values, and seven studies showed significantly lower pregnancy rates and live birth rates with higher DFI values. Ultimately, the studies included in this review highlight, collectively, the importance of measuring sperm DFI in the assessment of male infertility. Further studies are needed to explore the effectiveness of interventions aiming to reduce DFI levels.

Private Enterprises and Innovative Interventions in Long-Term Care for Older People: Insights into Residual Stereotypes of Greek Rural Areas

In many areas of rural Greece there exist remnants of traditional stereotypes that were socially constructed in closed societies where the institution of the patriarchal family previously reigned and are regenerated by the dominant culture. These stereotypes have shaped over time the perception that long-term care for older adults should be provided within the family structure and exclusively by family members. Notably, it was previously considered a disgrace in Greek rural society if children moved their parents to a residential or nursing home. Public or other care facilities for older people emerged just two decades ago, except a few led by the church. However, these attitudes have been softened in recent years. European and National funded programmes have shaped different notions towards long-term care in these areas. This was facilitated by the structural changes that occurred in the Greek countryside in combination with the existing low birth rate in these areas and the presence of concrete migratory flows. The present study explores the business environment that is being formed and its potential to unleash the productive forces that have pinned down the relevant residual stereotypes. It also examines the socio-economic impact of the above enterprises on rural areas. Qualitative interviews were conducted with eight entrepreneurs who have invested in rural long-term care settings for older persons and eight elected chairpersons of local councils. Our findings indicate that regardless of financial support towards private care entities for older people, in order for the services offered to take a more prominent social role, the development of local consensus and innovative interventions is required in tandem. If achieved, such care providers can contribute to the socio-economic development of rural areas. This study provides international literature with further evidence on the crucial role of such enterprises on supportiveness towards inhabitants’ quality of life improvement while results can be useful for Greek and European decision-making centers as well as potential rural entrepreneurs.

Assisted oocyte activation significantly improves zygote formation, cleavage, and implantation rates in patients with a history of fertilization failures.

Fertilization check performed at the 18th hour following classic in vitro fertilization procedure (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a critical stage in assisted reproduction. The success of the treatment is significantly reliant on the quantity of zygotes exhibiting two pronuclei. Consequently, low fertilization rates or complete fertilization failure are highly undesirable outcomes for both patients and reproductive specialists. Applying additional calcium ionophore for oocyte activation subsequent to ICSI may offer benefits and potentially enhance treatment outcomes, particularly for patients who have experienced low or absent fertilization rates (FR) in previous treatment cycles. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Ca2+ ionophore application for oocyte activation. A retrospective analysis of 924 oocytes obtained from 120 patients who underwent ICSI cycles with a history of low or no fertilization as a result of previous unsuccessful treatment rounds. The next ART cycle followed with additional oocyte Ca2+ ionophore activation applied in 57 of the cases in order to optimize the treatment process (Group 1), and 63 patients were included and their outcomes followed as a control group (Group 2).We conducted a comparative analysis of results in both groups. The study's primary outcomes encompassed fertilization, cleavage embryo quality, blastocyst rate, and established clinical pregnancies. At day 1fertilization check we had 274/386 zygotes (71%FR) in group 1 and 132/410 in group 2 (32.2%FR), (P<0.0001). Twenty-two (34.9%) cycles in group 2 resulted in total fertilization failure (TFF). At the cleavage stage top-quality embryos from group 1 were significantly higher (P = 0.0021) in comparison to group 2. Forty-eight embryo transfers (ET) were performed in group 1 resulting in 41.67% clinical pregnancies versus 33 ET and only 4 pregnancies (12.12%) for group 2 (P = 0.0044). The results confirm the appropriateness of assisted oocyte activation as an additional method in cases of previous fertilization failure cycles.

Marriages and divorces in the Arctic zone of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic in 2000–2022

BACKGROUND: One of the primary concerns for national security in the Russain Arctic today is the declining population. A decrease in population over the last decade has also been observed in the Arctic zone of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic. This trend can be attributed to unfavorable medical and demographic factors, such as low birth rates and relatively high mortality rates in the 13 districts that belong to the Arctic zone. We hypothesize that low marriage rates in most of the Arctic districts may also contribute to population decline. AIM: To describe marriage and divorce rates in the Arctic zone of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic in 2000–2022. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive study. Materials from the official government statistics were used. Initially, marriage- and divorce rates were calculated using the percentile method in all districts of the republic. Then the analysis was performed using the data from 13 Arctic districts. Associations between the variables were studied by correlation analysis RESULTS: Both marriage- and divorce rates were relatively low in the Arctic districts as demonstrated by the data in tables and charts and supported by the results of the correlation analysis. CONCLUSION: The Arctic regions of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic face challenges due to relatively low marriage- and divorce rates, which exacerbate the already unfavorable medical and demographic situation. In order to address these issues and improve the demographic policy in the region, specific recommendations have been developed for the municipal leaders of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic.