VTsIOM conducted a survey on attitudes towards abortion

Russian society is inclined to the position that the state should regulate the issue of abortion, the results of a recent survey by VTsIOM showed. However, a specific proposal to limit the sale of abortion drugs is not popular with those same citizens. The expert believes that Russians are “declaratively and ideologically” conservative, but in practice they behave differently.

The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM), especially for Kommersant, conducted a survey on attitudes towards abortion and recent legislative initiatives on this topic. The study involved 1.6 thousand respondents over 18 years old.

Almost half of them (47%) believe that the state should take measures to prevent abortions. A year ago, 36% thought so.

Today, 39% are against state intervention in such issues, and in 2022, 51% thought so. And although Russian society has not reached a consensus on this issue, over the past year the balance of public opinion has shifted noticeably towards state regulation of abortion, VTsIOM analysts say.

More than others support state regulation of abortion men (51%), Russians with incomplete secondary education (64%), villagers (63%), residents of the North Caucasus (65%) and Far Eastern (57%) federal districts. As a rule, women (43%), young people under 25 (62%), residents of both capitals (49%), active Internet users (46%), as well as those who do not have children ( 48%).

Kommersant previously reportedthat the Ministry of Health plans to limit the sale of abortion drugs by the end of the year, including them in the list of subject-quantitative accounting. Two specific names are meant: mifepristone and misoprostol. The survey showed that 55% of Russians oppose this initiative, while 35% support it. Against mainly young people (71% in the group under 25 and 60% in the group of 25–34 year olds), childless citizens (62%), residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (64%), women (58%) and the “poor” (61%). The only group of Russians that significantly more often than others supports the proposal of the Ministry of Health to limit the free sale of abortion drugs are residents of the North Caucasus Federal District (55%). Apparently, this is a consequence of cultural and religious ideas about the family, women and children, the authors of the study explain. Russians who believe that the state should take measures to prevent abortion support this initiative of the Ministry of Health three times more often than those who believe that the state should not regulate abortion (53% vs. 19%).

The main point of disagreement between those who support and do not support the proposal of the Ministry of Health is the clash of personal and state interests.

Supporters of restricting the free sale of abortifacients refer to the need to improve demographics, and women should give birth (30% of those who support). Their opponents talk about the freedom of personal choice and the principle of non-intervention of the state in the issues of termination of pregnancy (42% of those who do not support).

Another significant factor in supporting the initiative of the Ministry of Health is the importance of medical supervision over the use of such a drug (25% of those who support it). The opinion that abortion is a murder and an inhuman act was expressed by 16% in this group. Another 11% believe that such a measure will affect “reproductive responsibility” and people will plan their pregnancy more carefully. Religious beliefs are guided by 7%. Interestingly, in the group of supporters of the initiative, young people under 25 more often than others say that abortion is inhumane and immoral (30%), for them this is the main argument.

The arguments of opponents of restrictions on the free sale of drugs for abortion turned out to be more diverse. The risk of criminalizing abortion is seen by 15% in this group. And 11% noted that free access to drugs is needed because of various critical situations – early or unplanned pregnancy, rape. Every tenth believes that such a ban will lead to a worsening of the demographic situation, and 8% are afraid that people who are not able to financially provide for the child will not be able to have an abortion. Another 7% are concerned about women’s health.

It should be noted that women who oppose the initiative of the Ministry of Health are twice as likely as men in this group to point out the risk of criminalization of abortion (19% versus 8%).

Previously “Kommersant” told about a similar survey conducted among 1.6 thousand doctors. As it turned out, 59% of doctors surveyed by the professional service “Doctor’s Directory” opposed the restriction of the free sale of drugs for abortion. Doctors believe that this will lead to an increase in criminal abortions, a surge in “medical tourism” and a large percentage of child abandonment. At the same time, doctors are more skeptical than ordinary citizens about the role of the state in preventing abortions. 45% of doctors believe that only the woman’s opinion should be decisive in relation to termination of pregnancy, another 33% – that it should be the couple’s decision.

Alexei Firsov, a sociologist and founder of the Platforma social design center, believes that the VTsIOM survey demonstrates a split in the views of Russians. “On the one hand, almost half are in favor of government restrictions. The percentage of people with such views is increasing because the demographic situation is deteriorating, people fall under the influence of information about population decline. And among citizens there are many opponents of the idea of ​​compensating for the negative balance through migration,” says Mr. Firsov. “On the other hand, these are all very high-level positions. And if there is a real discussion about how the state can regulate abortion, the answers may be very different. This is evidenced by just a significant percentage of citizens who do not support a specific, rather than a theoretical measure in the form of restricting the sale of drugs. According to Aleksey Firsov, Russian society is “declaratively and ideologically” conservative, and when it comes to practices, such as the need to maintain family fidelity or observe religious fasts, then “conservatism disappears.”

Natalia Kostarnova