Today in Russia and all over the world significant efforts are invested in building biobanks-specialized facilities for storing biological materials for research and medical purposes. The successful functioning of biobanks depends directly on people's willingness to donate their biological materials. No previous studies of people's attitudes toward donations to biobanks have been undertaken in Russia. The goal of this study was to measure attitudes toward biobank donation among young Russians and to evaluate potential sociodemographic and personality factors that play a role in a person's readiness to become a donor. data from 542 students at Saint Petersburg State University were collected from group-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Only one-fifth of the students knew about the existence of biobanks, while roughly the same number believed they might have heard something about them but were not absolutely certain. However, the students indicated a relatively high level of readiness to become biobank donors (74%). Willingness to be a biobank donor was correlated significantly with studying biology and was just modestly correlated with students' values. In addition, we found gender-specific differences in the biobank characteristics that students felt were important in making a decision about whether to donate. The study demonstrated that today the attitudes of the general population (at least, those of the subgroup studied, students) do not pose a problem for the further development of biobanking in Russia.

Aims This study obtained data to inform the development of programs for prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) by examining Russian women’s perceptions about the determinants of their decisions regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy; the importance of educating professionals and community about FASD; and the credibility of various sources of information. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Seven women’s clinics in St. Petersburg and the Nizhny Novgorod region in Russia. Participants Six hundred and forty-eight pregnant and non-pregnant women of childbearing age. Measures A face-to-face structured interview assessed demographic characteristics, pregnancy status, alcohol consumption, and level of trust in and receptivity to FASD prevention messages. Findings The most influential contributor to women’s decisions regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy was their own knowledge, followed by information from an obstetrician/gynecologist or nurse. It was most important to women that obstetrics and gynecology professionals and husbands or partners were knowledgeable about the effects of drinking during pregnancy. Physicians’ recommendations and research data were regarded by the women as the most credible sources of information. There were significant variations in responses by socio-demographic characteristics and alcohol consumption levels. Younger women were more likely to report the contributions of husbands, mothers, and friends or coworkers to their decisions about alcohol consumption and indicated the importance of educating these people. Women at risk for alcohol use during pregnancy reported greater influence of husbands or partners and warning labels on containers on their alcohol consumption. Conclusions This study emphasizes the importance of broadly disseminating information about FASD, particularly research data, through education of health professionals and the general public in Russia. Women’s socio-demographic characteristics and alcohol consumption levels should be considered in designing prevention programs.

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Russia has one of the fastest rising rates of HIV among women in the world. This study sought to identify key factors in HIV transmission among women in Russia. Data were collected as part of a larger clinical trial to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies (AEP). Women at risk for an AEP were recruited at women’s clinics; 708 women, aged 18 – 44 (M= 29.04 years), completed HIV risk surveys. Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) was used to test the relationships between alcohol use and sex behavior constructs with HIV/STI risk. While the model indicated that multiple factors are involved in women’s HIV/STI risk, the independent alcohol use variable explains 20% of the variance in women’s HIV/STI risk. The findings suggest that alcohol use directly and indirectly predicts HIV/STI risk among women, and its effect is mediated by alcohol use before sex.

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