Correlates of abortions and condom use among high risk women attending an std clinic in st Petersburg, Russia

Cross-sectional analysis of data collected between 2009 and 2010 from women who had casual or multiple sexual partners in the previous three months was analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the independent correlates of abortion(s) and no condom use in the prior three months. Independent variables included socio-demographics, at risk drinking per alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT-C) criteria, having sex after drinking alcohol, having a sexual partner who injects illicit drugs, and parity.Of 87 participants, 45% had an abortion in their lifetime and 26% did not use condoms in the prior three months. Abortion was independently associated with low income (OR, 3.33, 95%CI, 1.13-9.78) and at risk drinking (OR, 3.52, 95%CI, 1.24-10.05). Lack of condom use was independently associated with being more likely to have sex after drinking (OR, 3.37, 95%CI, 1.10-10.28) and parity (OR, 3.69, 95%CI, 1.25-10.89).Programs to increase contraceptive use including condom use among women at high risk for STD/HIV in Russia are needed. Programs to reduce sexual HIV risk and abortion rates must address alcohol misuse and target women with limited income.Abortions were the primary means of birth control in the Soviet Union [1,2], and abortion rates in Russia are among the highest in the world today. Data from the United Nations Statistics Division from 2003 to 2004, show an abortion rate in Russia of 54% per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, which is more than twice the rate in the United States (21% per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44) and the highest of the Eastern and Western European countries [3]. Studies in Russia show that abortion prevalence as reported by women can range from 50% to 75% in different cities [4,5]. Although efforts to decrease unwanted pregnancy and abortion rates in the mid-1990s [6-9] have led to a reduction of abortions and better attitudes toward contraceptive methods in Russia [9], recent studies show that some Russian women still prefer not to us