Reproductive attitudes of the Russian students: regional aspect

The aim of our research is to identify the features, trends and factors affecting the reproductive attitudes of Russian youth during the period of higher education and after graduation. We use the materials of the survey of 1,388 students aged 17-28. The study involves respondents from different Russia's regions, studying in higher professional educational institutions. To achieve the aim of the research, we apply the method of interview, questionnaires, statistical analysis, methods of synthesis, generalization, and monographic method. The paper shows that the number of students with children in Russian universities can be assessed as insignifi cant. Despite the fact that the majority of interviewees agree that it is a joy to have a small child and watch they grow up; student youth have prevailing attitudes toward later childbearing. Our research helps to identify the most important arguments that young people are guided by when postponing the child birth for the period after completing their higher education: I will not be able to get a good education, it is too early to start a family life in student years, there will be no one to leave the child with, there will be serious fi nancial problems with the birth of a child. We determine that the majority of students intend to postpone childbirth even after graduation. The article argues that the analysis of the reasons why young student couples postpone childbirth is necessary in the development of demographic policy measures to stimulate fertility at the state level. This measure will allow young people to realize their reproductive intentions and reduce the difference between the indicators of the desired and expected number of children. The results of the work can be useful in the development of federal demographic policy and demographic policy in separate regions, as well as serve as a basis for further research on this topic.