Russia to send child-free women to psychologists under new health rules
Russia is introducing new health guidelines that will refer women who do not wish to have children to psychologists. The move is part of efforts to address the country’s declining birth rate, which has become a major concern for President Vladimir Putin. The health ministry’s new recommendations aim to encourage a more positive attitude toward childbirth. The initiative comes as Russia faces a historic low in birth rates and has implemented other measures to promote larger families.
What we know
- Under the new guidelines, doctors will ask women how many children they want, and those who answer zero will be referred to a medical psychologist.
- The recommendations were approved in late February and highlighted by state media this week.
- President Vladimir Putin considers the shrinking population a national survival issue, warning in 2024 that Russia faced “extinction” if birth rates do not increase.
- Russia’s birth rate is currently at a 200-year low of about 1.4 per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1.
- Recent years have seen tighter abortion laws and new bills against “child-free propaganda,” while large families are celebrated and given state benefits.
