In the past decade, countries in Eastern Europe and Eurasia have undergone economic and social transformations that have affected virtually every aspect of life, including health. By some measures, women's reproductive health has improved, as women in the region today are more likely to use modern contraception and less likely to have an abortion to prevent an unplanned birth. But rates of maternal and infant death are still unacceptably high, the use of preventive health services is low, and there is little awareness about other issues, such as how to prevent HIV/AIDS.

This brief provides highlights of surveys taken in 11 countries since 1996, covering a wide range of women's health topics and providing in-depth information on attitudes and behaviors related to reproductive health. The brief is based on a longer report that analyzes and compares survey results across countries (see For More Information below). The survey results give program officials, researchers, and policymakers an opportunity to learn about the characteristics of women who have the greatest health needs and the factors that lead to increased contraceptive use, reduced reliance on abortion, and other changes in women's reproductive health behavior.