Moscow, April 22, Interfax - The number of abortions among Russian women is two or three times higher than in Western countries.

"A total of 1.582 million abortions [40.3 abortions per 1,000 women] were performed in Russia in 2006," Olga Borzova, chairwoman of the State Duma Healthcare Committee, told journalists in comments on a draft bill, which introduces changes to the Russian law on advertising and which restricts advertising of abortions.

Borzova pointed at the downward trend as to the number of abortions. According to her data, the number of abortions in Russia in 2002 stood at 2.138 million, or 54.2 per 1,000 women.

Meanwhile, "the same ratio is two-three time lower in Western countries and stands at 15 abortions per 1,000 women on average," she said.

Speaking about the draft bill, Borzova said that the bill provides for banning abortion advertisement in streets, media and various facilities, except for special medical facilities. "Such a ban should be considered as an element of introducing a healthy lifestyle, because the changes it provides for are similar to the ones which have already been introduced as to the advertisement of tobacco, alcohol and beer," the MP said.