Tekijät

• Fedorova, Natalia (Centre for Independent Social Research in St. Petersburg)
• Haavio-Mannila, Elina (University of Helsinki. Department of Sociology)
• Hemminki, Elina (National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES))
• Kesseli, Katja (University of Helsinki. Department of Sociology)
• Koponen, Päivikki (National Institute for Health and Welfare)
• Martikainen, Pekka (University of Helsinki. Department of Sociology)
• Nikula, Minna (National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES))
• Pitkänen, Kari (University of Helsinki. Department of Sociology)
• Rotkirch, Anna (University of Helsinki. Department of Sociology)

Asiasanat

birth control, drug use, family planning, health status, interpersonal relations, men's health, pregnancy, prostitution, reproduction (biological), reproductive health, sex education, sexual behaviour, sexual health, sexual intimacy, sexually transmitted diseases

Sisällön kuvaus

The survey charted the reproductive health of men living in St. Petersburg, Russia. Topics included contraception and abortion, couple relationships, sexuality and childbearing, and general and sexual health.

The use of contraceptives and problems related to them were charted. The respondents were asked which contraceptive method they had used in their first sexual intercourse, who had made the decision to use contraception, whether they had been satisfied with the contraceptive used, what was the reason for the use/non-use of condom, and whether they had received advice on the use of contraceptives. Another set of questions explored whether the respondents had received sex education at home or at school, whether they had been afraid of unwanted pregnancy, and whether their wife or partner had ever had an abortion.

Sexual behaviour and couple relationships were probed by asking whether the respondents had a steady relationship at the moment of the survey, when had they last had a steady relationship, how many sexual partners they had had in their life, when they had last had sexual intercourse and with whom, whether they were sexually interested in the same sex, and whether they had received money or paid for sex.

Views on childbearing were charted. Opinions were surveyed on the ideal age for having children, the ideal interval between children, and the ideal number of children for a Russian family. The respondents were also asked whether they planned to have children, and what they though about abortion.

Health status was surveyed. Questions charted the respondents' chronic illnesses and venereal diseases, self-perceived quality of life, and satisfaction with their health. The respondents were asked what they would do if they contracted an STD, whether they had been tested for HIV out of their own volition, and where they would go if they wanted to have an HIV test. Smoking and alcohol use was charted as well as own and friends' drug use. The respondents were also asked how many times they had visited a physician during the past 12 months and whether they took certain measures to maintain their health.

The survey is part of the research project "Reproductive Health and Fertility Patterns in Russia - A Comparative Approach (REFER)". The researchers have provided English translations of the original Russian data.

Background variables included the respondent's age, education and occupation.