2002年-世界发展银行全球_Child_Welfare_Outcomes_During_the_1990s___Voume_1_Executive_Summary_26页_1mb

Summary of Child Welfare Outcomes in Russia During the 1990s

Core Content

This report analyzes child welfare outcomes in Russia during the 1990s, focusing on the impact of economic and social changes on children's well-being. It highlights the challenges faced by Russian children, including poverty, poor health and nutrition, and declining educational quality. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of social policies and outlines the need for more targeted, cost-effective, and family-centered approaches to child welfare.

Main Points and Key Information

1. Child Welfare in Russia During the 1990s

• Deterioration of Child Welfare: The 1990s marked a significant decline in child welfare in Russia, with increased risks of poverty, poor health, and educational challenges.
• Poverty:
  • The Russian economy declined throughout the 1990s, leading to a sharp rise in poverty.
  • Children, especially those from single-parent and multi-child families, were disproportionately affected.
  • By 2000, nearly every other child in Russia was living in poverty.
  • Poverty rates among children remained high even as the economy began to recover from 1999 onwards.
• Health and Nutrition:
  • Health indicators for children and women deteriorated or stagnated.
  • Infant mortality rate slightly decreased from 17.4 to 16.9 per thousand live births, but remained high.
  • Maternal mortality rate was still one of the highest in transition economies (39.7 per hundred thousand live births in 2000).
  • Nutrition levels worsened, particularly among the poor, with iodine deficiency being a significant concern.
• Education:
  • Broad access to education was maintained, but quality and relevance declined.
  • Preprimary education enrollment was high (76.6% for children aged 3-6), but the system lacked resources and modern teaching materials.
  • Vocational education became a major issue due to its limited market relevance.
  • Enrollment rates for children aged 7-15 were high (97.8%), but lower for older children (81.7%).

2. Factors Affecting Child Welfare

• Economic Decline: Real income and GDP declined significantly, leading to increased inequality and poverty.
• Demographic Changes: High divorce rates, increased mortality among working-age adults, and more births to unwed mothers contributed to the rise in single-parent families.
• Inadequate Social Policies: Public programs in health, education, and social protection were ineffective due to lack of resources, poor implementation, and limited focus on poverty and vulnerability.

3. Social Risk Management Policies

• Safety Nets: Social protection systems were limited and ineffective, relying heavily on costly and inefficient institutionalization.
• Decentralization: The family and child welfare system was decentralized, but this led to inconsistent and uncoordinated approaches at the regional and local levels.
• Legal Reforms: A new Family Code was introduced in 1995, promoting a rights-based, family-centered approach to child welfare.
• Challenges:
  • Lack of a comprehensive strategy for deinstitutionalization.
  • Insufficient support for community-based and preventive social services.
  • Functional fragmentation among ministries responsible for child welfare.
  • Weak accountability and inadequate monitoring and evaluation systems.
  • Persistent reliance on institutionalization due to vested interests and lack of alternative care options.

4. Vulnerable Groups

• Children Deprived of Birth Family Upbringing:
  • The number of such children increased by 40.3% over the decade, reaching 663,000 in 2000.
  • Institutionalization of these children rose, with 27% placed in residential institutions and 29% in 2000.
  • Institutionalization has been shown to be detrimental to child development and adjustment.
• Children with Disabilities:
  • There was a gradual shift from a medical model to a more functional approach.
  • Continued need for reform in education and social protection for children with disabilities.

Conclusion

The 1990s were a period of significant challenges for child welfare in Russia, driven by economic decline, social fragmentation, and inadequate policy responses. While some progress was made in legal and institutional reforms, the implementation of effective social policies remains a major challenge. The report emphasizes the importance of investing in child well-being as a means to build a more productive and socially cohesive society.