Back-Alley Abortions and the Russian Abortion Poster

Back-Alley Abortions and the Russian Abortion Poster June 29, 2015

Just a little history lesson for the day:  In 1920, Russia became the first nation in the world to allow abortion in all circumstances.

From 1936 through 1955, responding to Joseph Stalin’s fear of population decline, abortion was made illegal in that country; but the prohibitive legislation was revoked at the end of the Stalin era and by 1965, with 5.5 legal abortions recorded, the abortion rate in the U.S.S.R. was the highest in the world. The nations which were once a part of the Soviet Union have maintained that unfortunate lead, up to the present time.

Oh, and by the way–despite the legality and wide spread practice of abortion in Russia, the old “back-alley abortions” by unlicensed practitioners and midwives continues unabated.

I happened to run across this Russian abortion poster, circa 1925, and thought I’d share. Textual translations are:

TEXT AT TOP:  “Miscarriages induced by either trained or self-taught midwives not only maim the woman, they also often lead to death.

CAPTION FOR UPPER-LEFT PICTURE:  “Visiting the self-taught midwife”

UPPER-RIGHT PICTURE:  “Consequences of miscarriage”

LOWER PICTURE:  “Death from miscarriage”

TEXT AT LOWER LEFT:  “Any miscarriage is harmful.”

TEXT AT LOWER RIGHT:  “Any trained or self-taught midwife who induces a miscarriage is committing a crime.”

Russian abortion poster

Image is courtesy of the National Library of Medicine, and is in the public domain.


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