Abortion problem in Serbia
M. Rasevic
Institute of Social
Sciences, Demographic Research Center, Belgrade, Serbia
Objective: Induced
abortion has for a long time been a predominant method of birth control in
Serbia. With spreading of contraception, its significance became to a decrease.
Besides this positive trend, estimated number of abortions observed both
absolutely (about 200.000 abortions per a year) and relatively (82.1 abortions
per 1.000 women in the 15–49 age) shows that a significant number of women
mostly, and a certain number of women exclusively, relies on this method of
birth control. It should also be stressed that more or less all women,
independently of the age, education, profession, marital status and other social,
psychological and cultural characteristics, turn to induced abortion. This fact
poses a number of questions, among which the most important one is why are women
in Serbia not relying on modern contraception?
Method: Identification of
determinate factors of abortion problem in Serbia trough research findings
synthesis having in mind that several abortion-related surveys were conducted in
last decade in Central Serbia and Vojvodina.
Results: Research findings
discovered a complex array of factors of abortion problem, including
insufficient knowledge of contraception and abortion, a belief that modern
contraceptive methods are harmful to health, and a number of psychological
barriers, also those arising from relationships with partners. Additionally, the
liberalization of the abortion law occurred at a time of decrease birth rate and
very modest presence of modern contraceptive methods. Also, there are few
organized efforts to promote sex education, as well as limitations in the family
planning programme. Thus, conclusion of one research is that gynecologists
attitudes about modern contraceptive and behavior do not differ significantly
from the rest of the people.
Conclusion: Actual problem in reproductive health
sphere is complex, serious and ask for solution. It supposes the promotion of
knowledge, the network of family planning services, the access to modern
contraception means, responsibility of male in family planning, the law
regulation of sterilization, etc. Duration of prevalence of induced abortions
indicates that underlying causes of frequency are numerous and stable over time.
Considering this, and the slowness of any spontaneous change, it may be expected
that the problem of abortions will be present in the years to come.
