Penza, 5 February 2018. PenzaNews. The number of children born in the Penza region in 2017 decreased by 1,738 people or 12.7% compared with the number registered in 2016. This was reported by the head of the Penza Statistics Service Maxim Ukhanov.

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"The number of the deceased decreased by 710 people or 3.6%," he added during an action meeting held in the regional government on Monday, February 5.

In turn, the governor Ivan Belozertsev noted that such results "alert and make sad".

"When it comes to the level of salaries and other spheres of activities – establishment of cultural institutions, sports facilities, the level of available places in kindergartens, work of business and industrial enterprises it would seem that we have good results compared to other regions of the Volga Federal District and the Russian Federation, but demographic issues of the region cause certain worries," the head of the region said.

He asked the minister of health of the Penza region Vladimir Stryuchkov what could have caused the decrease in birth rate, and the head of the department explained that it is the all-Russian tendency.

"The first factor is that the children who were born in 1990s already entered the child-bearing age," he specified.

At the same time Vladimir Stryuchkov noted that according to estimates of experts, the tendency towards decrease in birth rate will wane.

He also reported that he plans to visit the centre "Mother and child" in Samara where, according to him, latest technologies are used.

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In continuation of the conversation the head of the regional Ministry of Health explained that even women of a mature age started to give birth.

"Twins and triplets are born more often – this is connected with in-vitro fertilisation. [...] that is why there is hope and grounds for the growth of the birth rate," he said.

At the same time, Ivan Belozertsev gave an order to analyse forms of support for families that after an unsuccessful IVF procedure decide to undergo it again.

"I think that we do not work enough when it comes to this issue. It is obvious that it cannot be solved by administrative methods. Some social methods are needed," the governor noted.