Russian birth rate increases by 5.6%

Russian birth rate increased from 12.6 to 13.3 per thousand (by 5.6%) in 2012, RIA Novosti cites Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova.

She believes that growing birth rate was encouraged by social stimulation and complex measures for protection of maternity and children, such as efforts of the service for psychological support of pregnant women.

Abortion rates dropped by 53,900 (5.5%) a year.

Skvortsova added that implementation of advanced technology to fight infertility increased birth rate by 3,000.