Reproductive Health Services in Russia and CEE - a Review on Providers and Provider-Patient-Relations Research in English 1990-2010,

Reproductive health services within Russia and Central Eastern European (CEE) postsocialist countries received particular attention both internationally and nationally in the early 1990s. There was a shared concern about access to proper services in the field of family planning and antenatal care and about the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical professionals. Yet comprehensive reviews of research literature on the topic are difficult to find in English. This review was written to construct a general view of the situation in Russia and CEE countries for the purposes of a research project on reproductive health services in St. Petersburg. The review consists of empirical reports and systematic reviews published in English. It is structured in two parts: (1) providers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding family planning and (2) patient involvement in clinical decision-making and provider-patient relationships in reproductive health services.