Can't separate role of society and government

The fact that the population is declining in Russia is not as much of an issue as the underlying reasons. I'm personally concerned about the potential "cataclysmic" events in the 90s having such an adverse effect on the Russian population. Russia's focus should not be on whether their population is decreasing or increasing; it should be focusing on decreasing their infant mortality rates, increasing their life expectation rates, and decreasing these so "unnatural" causes that may be a residual effect of the harsh realities that those living in Russia have faced all these years. Perhaps more health education interventions will be needed here to educate people about alcohol abuse and suicides (two large determinants of the "unnatural causes").

The role of society is inherently tied to the government's role, and this fact is hard to separate out. The fact that nearly 80 percent live in low-living conditions (low SES), creates major barriers to good health. At this point, the role of society to look out for one another as a community is essential, but it doesn't seem feasible unless there is a government intervention.

It is evident that more supportive services are necessary for vulnerable populations. More money needs to be streamlined into getting care for mothers (pre- and post-partum) to make sure that they do not die as a result of giving birth. There needs to be a paradigm shift in fixing the economy and bringing political stability to a country desperate for quality health care.