Three-quarters of Russian women of reproductive age visit gynecologist for preventive care every year. However certain women tackle health issues by themselves.
MOSCOW, April 19, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the annual project ‘Gedeon Richter Women’s Health Index’ to monitor Russian women’s awareness of women’s health issues.
The share of women of reproductive age (18-45) who go to gynecologist for regular check has been above 70% over the recent two years; according to the 2018 survey, this share is 73%. Those women who avoid annual preventive checkup say that they do not need it because they have a regular sexual partner (46%) and do not have health complaints (44%).
According to 82% of Russian women, the most common reason to see a gynecologist (from the proposed list) is to determine genetic predisposition for certain diseases (82% of women). Approximately two-thirds of women of reproductive age (63%) go to gynecologist when they plan to get pregnant. The share of those who would like to get advice about contraception is almost equal to the share of those who want to know about STDs (51% would go to the doctor; 48% would treat themselves).
Hardly anyone go to gynecologist to get advice on skin care (only 2%). Every second Russian woman (51%) would go to dermatologist first; every fifth would make an appointment with beauty expert (22%). Those living in mid-sized and small cities opt for dermatologists, whereas those living in million cities or metropolitan area prefer estheticians. Twelve percent definitely choose self-treatment.
When having skin problems (pimples, acne), most of women (34%) use numerous beauty products. Ten percent use specific pharmaceutical products; 4% (per each group) prefer diet or cauterization. Every fourth Russian woman goes to experts and do not try to use self-treatment (26% across sample).
The share of those who accept hormone therapy for skin treatment is from 23% to 39%; most of them do it to combat acne (39% across sample; 46% among the 18-24-year-olds). Every third woman (32%) takes hormones to prolong youth (mainly women aged 35-45 (36%); less often young women aged 18-24 (26%)). However the majority do not consider any of these cases to start taking hormones.
Only 4% of women would follow the esthetician’s advice to take hormones to tackle skin problem; more than half (54%) would get additional advice from gynecologist. More than one-third of respondents (41%) do not consider this option (this percentage is higher among older women, those who do not have higher education diploma as well as those who have never used this kind of therapy).
See the research results in the PPT.
*‘Gedeon Richter Women’s Health Index’ is aimed to monitor the Russian women health through nationwide survey of women of reproductive age. The monitoring is part of “Women's Health Week” social project.
VCIOM nationwide survey was commissioned by Gedeon Richter and conducted on March 30-April 3, 2018. The survey was carried out using CATI technique and involved female respondents aged in reproductive age (18-44), interviewed via landline and cell phones. The sample size is 1200 respondents; the sample is based on the list of telephone numbers operating in Russia and quotas at the final selection stage. The data were weighted according to social and demographic characteristics (age and type of settlement). The margin of error with 95% confidence interval does not exceed 2.9%.
In general, how often do you visit gynecologist for preventive care? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | |||
| 2016* | 2017 | 2018 |
Less often than once a year** | 77 | 74 | 73 |
Every two years | 6 | 5 | 11 |
Less often than once per 3 years | 3 | 5 | 4 |
I never visit gynecologist for preventive care; I only go there when I have some health problems | 14 | 14 | 12 |
I have never been to gynecologist | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Refusal to answer | 0 | 1 | 0 |
* VCIOM nationwide survey was commissioned by Gedeon Richter and conducted on April 1-10, 2016. The survey was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample involving females in reproductive age (18-44), interviewed via landline and cell phones. The sample size is 1,200 respondents; the sample is based on the list of telephone numbers operating in Russia. The margin of error with 95% confidence interval does not exceed 2.9%.
* In 2016-2017, this answer option comprised two options (“every six months”, “every year”).
Gynecologists recommend women to visit gynecologist for preventive care once a year. In your opinion, why do you refuse to observe this? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who do not visit gynecologist for preventive care every year) | |
| 2018 |
I have a permanent sexual partner, no need to go through checkups | 46 |
I have no complaints | 44 |
No qualified certified gynecologist | 30 |
No time | 26 |
It is hard to make an appointment | 24 |
Expensive checkups and medicines | 14 |
I am shy, I feel uncomfortable | 12 |
I am afraid they will find some disease | 6 |
I did not know about this recommendation | 2 |
Other | 8 |
Don’t know | 0 |
Now I will read the descriptions of situations and ask you to answer in what cases you will go to gynecologist and in what cases you will try to solve the problem by yourselves. (closed-ended question, one answer per each line, % of all respondents) | ||||
|
| I go to doctor | I solve the problem by myself | Don’t know |
To determine genetic predisposition for certain disease | 2018 | 82 | 16 | 2 |
2017 | 82 | 15 | 3 | |
To get advice about pregnancy planning | 2018 | 63 | 34 | 3 |
2017 | 64 | 33 | 3 | |
Health has deteriorated; first signs appeared | 2018 | 55 | 43 | 2 |
2017 | 50 | 48 | 2 | |
To get advice on contraception methods | 2018 | 51 | 48 | 1 |
2017 | 45 | 53 | 2 | |
To get information about STDs | 2018 | 51 | 48 | 1 |
2017 | 47 | 52 | 1 | |
If you have skin problems (pimples, acne), what doctor will you primarily go to? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million cities | 500-950, 000 inhabitants | 100–500, 000 inhabitants | Less than 100,000 inhabitants | Rural area |
Dermatologist / dermatovenerologist | 51 | 37 | 41 | 57 | 50 | 49 | 57 |
Esthetician | 22 | 32 | 31 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 16 |
Gastroenterologist | 5 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
Endocrinologist | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Gynecologist | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
I will not go to anyone; I will treat myself | 12 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 14 |
Other specialist | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Don’t know | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
What methods of skin treatment do you use when you have skin problems? (open-ended question, at least three answers, % of all respondents) | |
| 2018 |
Cosmetics: cream, lotions, washing gel, scrub, mask | 34 |
Pharmaceutical products: pharmacy medicines, Basiron, Zineryt, ointment | 10 |
Diet/ detoxication procedures | 4 |
To cauterize or dry out skin using iodine, brilliant green, salicylic acid, alcohol, peroxide, zinc solution | 4 |
Folk cures: celandine, camomile, calendula, salt, sodium, honey | 2 |
Skin cleansing/ squeezing | 2 |
Taking vitamins | 1 |
Antiseptic, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine | 1 |
Hormone therapy | 1 |
I look for information on the Internet | 1 |
Other (banya, etc.) | 2 |
I do nothing, it goes away on its own | 4 |
I do nothing on my own; I go to specialists (doctor or esthetician) | 26 |
I have never had this problem | 9 |
Don’t know | 14 |
In general, do you accept hormonal therapy in the following situations? (closed-ended question, one answer per each line, % of all respondents) 2018 | |||
| Yes, I accept | No, I don’t | Don’t know |
Skin problems, pimples and acne | 39 | 59 | 2 |
Excessive hair growth (facial hair) | 34 | 62 | 4 |
To prolong life and youth | 32 | 64 | 4 |
Swelling before menstruation | 23 | 70 | 7 |
If your esthetician recommends that you take hormonal therapy to solve your skin problems, would you rather…? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) 2018 | ||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-45 |
Go to gynecologist for additional information about hormonal therapy | 54 | 56 | 55 | 52 |
Rely on esthetician’s advice and start using the hormonal drugs you successfully used before | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
Refuse hormone therapy; you will use other methods to tackle skin problems | 41 | 36 | 41 | 42 |
Don’t know | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Note: Using materials from the website (www.wciom.ru or wciom.com), as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) and the title of the study (Gedeon Richter Women's Health Index) is obligatory!