COVID-19 and fertility intentions: a qualitative study in six regions of Russia

Abstract

The paper discusses results of a qualitative study conducted in May-June 2021 in six regions of Russia (Astrakhan region, Republic of Bashkortostan, Republic of Kalmykia, Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, Tomsk region and Yaroslavl region) with the purpose to identify opinions on impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility. Focus groups were held in these regions among childless respondents aged below 35. This allowed to observe influence of the pandemic on intentions to become first-time parents which is critically important for fertility tendencies. Although the survey regions differed considerably by fertility rate and age-specific characteristics as well as by socio-cultural characteristics, key results of the focus groups were rather similar across regions. The respondents in all regions very strictly defined income levels necessary for having a child and also stressed out the need for parents to provide positive psychological conditions for their young off-springs. Assessing their abilities to become “high-quality” parents, the informants relied almost only on their own resources, not counting much upon assistance of elder relatives. Under these views, the pandemic was perceived as a serious obstacle for the “high-quality” parenthood. The informants did not expect the state measures of support for families with children to considerably soften this effect of the pandemic.

Shifts in Emancipative Values during Times of Crises: Longitudinal Evidence from the Covid-19 Pandemic in Russia

“…The death toll per 100K in Russia is the third-largest in the world, behind only Bulgaria and Lithuania 4 . In addition to enormous excess mortality, the pandemic brought about other negative demographic changes, such as delayed childbearing (Kazenin, 2022) and decline in birth rates (Sobotka et al, 2023).…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of infant children in the Moscow region

“…Полученные результаты находят подтверждение и в других немногочисленных анализах влияния COVID-19 на детскую популяцию раннего возраста в первый год пандемии [25,27]. Так снижение заболеваемости на 19% у детей возрастной группы 0-4 года в Москве в 2020 г. произошло на фоне уменьшения показателей амбулаторной помощи в виде снижения общего числа посещений детьми -на 30,3% [28]. Анализ заболеваемости и посещаемости лечебных учреждений в последующие годы не представлен.…”