ATTITUDE OF THE POPULATION OF THE SVERDLOVSK OBLAST TOWARDS ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES: RESULTS OF A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY
N.P. Neklyudova, O.A. Kozlova, N.L. Struin
Institute of Economics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia
Keywords: assisted reproductive technologies, in vitro fertilization, donation, reproductive health, sociological study, Sverdlovsk Oblast
Abstract
The article studies the attitude of the population of the Sverdlovsk Oblast towards Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), focusing on the level of awareness, factors influencing acceptance, and personal readiness to use the technologies and to donate reproductive materials. The aim of the work was to identify the attitudes and socio-demographic determinants affecting the perception of ART. The study is based on a sociological survey of 596 residents of the Sverdlovsk Oblast aged 18-45, conducted in 2024-2025. Methods of stratified non-probability sampling, descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, and correlation analysis were applied. It was found that 74.5% of respondents are aware of ART, and the overall attitude towards them is predominantly positive (68.1%). In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the most popular method for solving a hypothetical infertility problem (58.5%). Only 7.6% of respondents are personally ready to become gamete donors. Statistically significant gender and age differences were revealed, as well as a direct correlation between income level and a positive attitude towards ART. The research results can be used by healthcare authorities and specialized medical institutions to develop targeted public awareness programs, overcome the stigmatization of ART, and generate strategies for attracting donors of reproductive materials.
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