Indigenous women’s reproductive health in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia: challenges and solutions

Abstract

In the Russian Arctic, alarming trends (shortage of nomadic Indigenous women, high reproductive loss, child mortality rates) indicate long-term changes towards demographic decline. This study aimed at comparing some indicators of the reproductive health (childbirth rates, number of pregnancies, pregnancy loss) of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in the exploration of cultural and social factors influencing reproductive behaviour. A multidisciplinary approach draws on methods of medicine, sociology and health economics. It includes data of the women’s reproductive health collected from surveys of 879 women (of whom 627 were Indigenous) during expeditions to the settlements and the tundra of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in 2013–2019. In the tundra, 66.7% of registered Indigenous women’s pregnancies resulted in childbirth, 7.8% in induced abortions, 25.5% in spontaneous miscarriage. More than three children were delivered by 59.1% of Indigenous women. Most Indigenous families suffered from high pregnancy loss. Marriage between close relatives was 27.0%. Child mortality equalled 24.4%, three times higher than in the population of the settlements and eight times higher than in families immigrating from other regions. The survival of Indigenous peoples significantly depends on women’s reproductive health and sufficient medical service that requires targeted policy.

Giving birth in rural Arctic Greenland results from an Eastern Greenlandic birth cohort

“…The rate of stillbirth in the Eastern Greenlandic cohort was 0.8% which is comparable with birth outcomes in other remote areas [ 64 ]. Autopsies of babies are not systematically carried out in Greenland.…”

The Impact of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on the Migration of the Rural Arctic Population of Western Siberia

“…However, the previous research proved the opposite trend among one of the demographic groups in YNAO, nomadic Indigenous Peoples: a catastrophic decrease in the number of women. This resulted in the "shortage of brides in the tundra" [58]. A similar consequential pattern was observed in northern Alaska and Greenland: disproportionate outmigration by locally-born women [29].…”

“…We can't go by car and get to the city quickly". The situation is complicated by the fact that the transport accessibility of small settlements totally depends on weather conditions and seasonality [58] since the main transports are water (in summer), and air (in winter). Using automobile transportation is possible only in winter.…”

Социальная Безопасность Женщин-Оленеводов В Российской Арктике В Новых Экономических Условиях: Проблемы И Решения

“…Они имеют самые низкие шансы получить базовое образование и в то же время чаще всего находятся в условиях крайней нищеты [5]. С другой стороны, в российской Арктике женщины из числа коренных народов имеют, как правило, более высокий уровень образования по сравнению с мужчинами [16]. Новым трендом становится активизация предпринимательской активности женщин, когда именно они открыто занимают лидирующие позиции в общественных институтах и бизнесе.…”

“…Так, Н. И. Новикова описывает ресурсы, технологии и социальные институты создания предпринимательской деятельности среди коренных малочисленных народов с учетом самобытной культуры [6]. Исследователи отмечают, что асимметрии (уровень образования, модели брачного поведения мужчин и женщин) усилились и привели к повышению интенсивности эмиграции женщин из тундры, переселяющихся в городские районы в «поисках лучшей жизни» [16].…”