Lithuania is often called the Land of St. Mary, since it has been a purely Catholic country for more than 600 years. In Lithuania, special attention is given today to reproduction health and the system of family prolongation organs. As a matter of fact, community life and women's health status are two closely related things: women in a more wealthy and spiritual society are usually healthier, and good health of women, especially mothers, has positive influence on physical and spiritual well-being of the society. "Be fertile and reproductive yourself, fill in the Earth and rule it" (PR 1,28).
The population of Lithuania is approximately 3.7 million. The birth rate index of 1980 - 1990 has been quite stable in Lithuania &endash; about 15-16 births for 1 000 of population. However, since 1990 the birthrate in Lithuania, similarly to other Central and Eastern European countries, has decreased due to social economic problems of the transitional period. Since 1994 the birth rate has been negative (death rate became higher than the birth rate) which was caused by growing mortality. Compared to other countries - candidates to the European Union, the rate of natural decrease in population was slower, but for a number of years it still remains negative (Fig.1 and 2).

Infant mortality in Lithuania has been decreasing since 1993, and in 1999 it reached 8.6 for 1 000 of live births. The index is one of the lowest among other countries - candidates to the European Union. The ratio of newborns of less than 2 500 gr. weight is lower in Lithuania than in other countries, being 4.5 percent in 1999, compared to 6.3 &endash; the average of EU countries in 1995. Perinatal mortality is also one of the lowest among EU countries.

There are two major problems in the Lithuanian community: worsening human reproduction health and the diminishing birth rate. The major opinion is, that the reasons for this are: bad material status of the family and abortions. Material conditions have undoubtedly influenced the rate of human reproduction and birth, but these do not necessarily correlate. In spite of the fact, that the total birth index in Lithuania was 1.54 (in 1995), other more wealthy countries had it less: in Italy it was 133 (in 1992); in West Germany &endash; 1.34 and in East Germany &endash; 0.77 (in 1994); in Austria &endash; 1.45 (1993), in Switzerland 1.49 (1994). Our neighbors and other Eastern European countries in 1994 also claimed low birth rate, for instance, Estonia &endash; 1.37, Latvia &endash; 1.4. In some highly developed European countries the total of birth rate was significantly higher in 1994: in Denmark it was 1.84, in Finland &endash; 1.85, in Norway &endash; 1.87, in Sweden &endash; 1,88, in Iceland &endash; 2.14. The rate is also very high in poor regions of Africa and Southeast Asia.
Induced abortion was legalized in Lithuania in 1955, during the Soviet occupation. The official data on the rate of abortion became available after regaining the Independence in 1990. The data is still not precise because it is not meticulously registered in private clinics. During the years of 1990 through 1999 the number of abortions for 1 000 of live births was decreasing. According to the latest data, abortion rate in Lithuania was lower than in Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia and Hungary, but was about twice as high as in the EU.

The abortion index in Lithuania (number of abortions for 1 000 fertile women per year) is quite high: it was 33.7 in 1995, 29.9 in 1996, and 24.3 in 1997 (Table 1.). However, it was lower than in the neighboring countries: Latvia had 70.4 (1994), Estonia &endash; 66.3 (1994), Russia &endash; 98.1 (1992). In highly developed European countries the abortion index is not so high. The Netherlands had 5.2 in 1992, Switzerland &endash; 7.7 (1994), Finland &endash; 11.0 (1994). The average of abortions for 1 000 women between the ages of 15 and 44 in Western Europe was 14.0. This is actually a very urgent and painful problem.

In the opinion of most gynecologists and advertisers of oral contraceptives, family planning using effective oral contraceptives to prevent undesirable pregnancy, as well as sexual education might help solve this problem. According to the data of 1998, about 170 women daily got pregnant; among them, 88 women (53 percent of the total) got pregnant unwillingly, and 57 women (61 percent of the latter) had abortion.

There were no death cases or lethal complications (e.g. infertility) from abortion in Lithuania. However, in our, Catholic obstetricians-gynecologists' opinion, the problem lies not here. As a matter of fact, the reasons for abortion are woman's wish and medical indications. Thus, the age of women having abortion is getting younger. More and more teenagers get pregnant and want abortion. This has to do with the family situation in Lithuania. The number of divorce is rising, which was not the case before the Soviet occupation, in the pre-war Lithuania. In my opinion, this is the consequence of, first of all, spiritual genocide. The second reason is the flow of obscenity and pornography in the media: film, television and literature, easily accessible by the young generation.

Induced abortion is quite a big for Catholic gynecologists in Lithuania, because only in the University hospitals gynecologists have the right to refuse inducing an abortion. In other hospitals these specialists are forced to carry out all operations, including abortion. It might also be the matter of agreement between the colleagues. However, only a small number of gynecologists refuse to do abortion.

Human life is sacred and inviolable. Human dignity should be respected from the moment of conception till the moment of natural death. Thus, ingenuous conception, safe bearing in mother's womb, secure birth, life and natural death are among natural human rights.

It is especially important to develop understanding of the value of life and morality in young people. Therefore, a Catholic organization "Family Center" and volunteer students working in it attempt to educate the youth between the ages of 12 to 16 in its chapters all over Lithuania. Besides, youth organizations established in parishes organize youth summer camps.

By the decision of members of Lithuanian Association "Pro-life", which belongs to WFCMA, all the Lithuanian Catholics must aim at passing the law which would protect human life and defend fetus' rights.

1. Demografijos metratis 1999 m. Statistikos departamentas. Vilnius, 2000.
2. WHO, HFA data base, Copenhagen 1999.
3. Health 21: the health for all policy framework for the WHO European Region, WHO 1999