RUSSIAN ABORTION RATE FALLS.

The abortion rate in Russia has fallen by nearly a quarter since 1993, according to a new draft government report being prepared for UNICEF. The number of abortions per 100 live births fell from 235 in 1993 to 203 in 1997, which is still extremely high by international standards. Only about 25 percent of Russian women use any form of contraception, up three percent from 1993. (Russian agencies, October 13)

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