Suchergebnisse

The paper presents the findings of a study that included 29 graduate year students of the Faculties of Sciences (Geography Department), Law and Medicine of the University of Novi Sad. Three focus groups discussed the students? perception of elderly people and their first associations with old age. They were also asked whether they were aware of the life characteristics when it comes to the Third age and to explore their personal experiences with the elderly, as well as the young men and women?s thoughts of their own ageing and of themselves as old people. The students? responses indicated that most of them had romantic visions of their own old age and, at the same time, multiple negative stereotypes and prejudices about the elderly people around them, whom they rarely supported. It is, therefore, important to promote understanding between youth and the elderly in an ageing society, as it is the case in Vojvodina and Serbia overall.

Our understanding of whether, to what extent, and under which conditions religions nowadays influence birth levels depends on research. It is important to seek answers to two fundamental questions. The first question is about the role of religiosity and religious affiliation in the deterministic cause of low fertility and family planning in recent times. The second question deals with the influence of religious institutions on birth levels and the exercise of reproductive rights at the global level and within certain population groups over recent decades. To that end, the paper provides an overview of theoretical examinations of the connection between religions and fertility, empirical studies addressing low completed fertility, birth control, or sexual behaviour in relation to religiosity or religious affiliation of individuals, as well as the influence of religious institutions on fertility transition and the respect of human rights in this field. A review of the recent studies of various populations characterised by low birth levels shows that religiosity, especially practising religion, encourages people to uphold traditional values, attitudes, and behaviours that are directly or indirectly related to the concepts of marriage and childbearing. Moreover, it sheds light on some examples of religious institutions? concrete opposition to progress in this area, while also highlighting contradictory cases of religions supporting pro-found contemporary changes in reproductive behaviour.

Sweden was the first country in Europe to introduce compulsory sex education
into school curricula as early as 1955. It is nowadays integrated in the
education systems of many European countries. Is the contemporary approach
to sex education realistic in Serbia, as well? In other words, has the state
modernised its education system and adapted it to the present-day
requirements and needs in this field? With that respect, the paper considers
a number of topics related to sex education: contemporary definition of the
concept, respect of the relevant human rights, new needs for this type of
information, the implementation principles, barriers and models in the
European countries, the role of schools, health care institutions and the
media, as well as the good practices in Europe. Besides the research results
published in scientific papers, important inputs for consideration of the
above topics were also taken from the relevant studies of the World Health
Organisation, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the
European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health. This has provided
the basis for the status assessment and the formulation of expectations with
regard to the implementation of youth sex education in Serbia. The emphasis
is on working with youth as the key target group for education in this
field, although sex education is significant in all stages of life.

Introduction: The objective of this paper is to collect the opinions of the
leading demographers in Serbia on four significant matters. The matters are:
development, state and future of demography, the successfulness of
researchers in this scientific discipline, improvement of the Stanovnistvo
journal, as well as the population priority of our society and range of
population policies. Method: A qualitative interview was chosen as the
instrument for data collection. Namely, a structured interview, based on nine
questions was sent by e-mail to eleven addresses of relevant demographers in
the second half of October 2013. The basic reason for sending questions by
e-mail was the aspiration to obtain authentic replies which require time for
contemplation. Ten completed questionnaires were returned within two weeks.
On the one hand, an integral picture on the chosen themes for research was
attempted to be obtained in the analysis of received opinions to certain
groups of questions and on the other hand to portray the spectrum of
different observations. The responses of our prominent demographers were
analyzed and compared to clearly pronounced standpoints of eminent
demographers published in world journals on similar themes and with findings
of internet researches among members of the International Union for the
Scientific Study of Population. Results: The results show that there is a
high level of consent among demographers in Serbia regarding the well
positioning of demography in relation to other social studies and its good
perspectives. The interviewed experts see the future of demography in its
integration with a wide circle of sciences, the application of demography
and/or greater engagement of researchers in carrying out public policies.
However, the estimations of the interviewed demographers as regards the
development and state of demography in Serbia are divided. Although a large
number of topics had been listed, migrations and population ageing were
singled out the most as significant for examining in the immediate future.
The inclusion of Stanovnistvo on the Science Citation Information Journal
List and expanding the circle of authors were the basic recommendations of
the respondents regarding better quality of the journal. All interviewed
experts mentioned various kinds of knowledge and characteristics necessary
for demographers to posses in order to be successful. Contrary to the
homogeneous opinion that a demographer should be a superior-researcher, a
wide range of responses were given to the question regarding selecting the
best indicator for determining the successfulness of researchers in the study
of population. As many as eight out of ten interviewed experts believe
population ageing is the greatest population challenge which Serbia is
facing. However, a low level of consensus appeared among the demographers as
regards the range of the political response. Namely, five experts declared
they were pessimists in view of the possibilities for mitigating the
challenge they singled out. On the contrary, five interviewed experts
expressed optimism, as they believe in the economic development of Serbia,
the possibilities of institutional adjustments to demographic changes, and/or
in man and his rationality. Conclusion: Demographers in Serbia highly
appreciate the discipline they belong to. At the same time they are strict
critics and have high expectations in all matters dealing with demography.

The term reproductive health was introduced at the International Conference
on Population and Development held under the auspices of the United Nations
in Cairo in 1994. A new conceptual approach was established in order to
secure a balance between micro and macro reproductive needs and goals, as
well as individual rights and responsibilities in the sphere of health,
partner relationship and parenthood. The Programme of Action resulted from it
and was adopted on the same occasion. What effects did the messages from
Cairo have on the state of reproductive health of the population in Serbia?
An analysis of the state and trends of the ten most important indicators in
this field indicate that expected breakthroughs have not been made. If any
were made, they have been registered in the last few years and mostly dealt
with the stabilization of values of certain indicators, but on unfavourable
level. The continuing decrease of AIDS death rate makes a real exception.
However, this does not lessens the significance, but confirms the relevance
and topicality of the Programme of Action, especially in Serbia.

The Serbian population (exclusive of Kosovo and Metohia region) is among the oldest populations in the world. More than 950,000 individuals in the Central Serbia and about 300,000 individuals in Vojvodina, or one sixth of both populations are 65 plus. The findings of representative surveys carried out recently pointed out that poverty and poor institutional and instrumental support are the main issues of the elderly population in Serbia. The poverty rate among the elderly is high (9.6 percent) and significantly higher than average (6.6). In the meantime, the coverage of poor elderly in Serbia with material provisioning of the family (MPF), the most important measure of the state's social policy, is low due to lack of information of potential beneficiaries, difficulties in collecting all necessary documents as well as strict criteria in connection to means and income tests necessary for exercising the right on this social benefit. Not only that the MPF coverage of poor elderly is inadequate, the amount of this social benefit is also very low. Parallel interviews with 826 elderly persons of 70 and over demonstrate that, although four out of five elderly are chronic patients, the majority of respondents evaluates that they are capable of living in their own households. However, a substantial number of the elderly, every fourth, needs some kind of assistance services with a view to daily functioning at home or in local community. Respondents mainly rely on family in resolving daily problems. A family provides greatest help and support regardless of the fact that such elderly person lives alone or not. Significant factors of support to elderly are friends and neighbors of such persons. Institutions have only a marginal role in the elderly support network. .

Population policy is a requirement and demand of the times we are living in. Serbia's response to the problems of demographic development is based on numerous adopted documents of strategic type regarding the policy towards population fertility, mortality and population ageing. Their adoption, however, represents only the first step. A good first step, it seems. All important resources of the population policy are recognized in the strategies. Numerous measures and activities have been stated, many worked out. A multi-sector approach has been accepted, defined and coordinated in their realization. However, the realization of expected results will greatly depend on the operationalization of proposed measures and activities and of course, their putting into effect. On the contrary, in the strategic document which the state adopted towards migrations, there has not even been an attempt to find solutions regarding a more complete political response towards internal and external migrations. What is the least necessary is carrying out measures and activities in order to mitigate problems which arise from a disturbed spatial population distribution and population drain. The time factor in population policy is especially important because, on the one hand, accomplishment of positive effects and mitigation of demographic disturbances requires time and, on the other hand, any delay of changes worsens the demographic basis and increases the strength of its inertness.

Population fertility is a topic which arouses the most attention in the public when considering the demographic situation in Serbia. Through various institutions and mass media, there is more and more talk on the low level of births, its reasons and consequences as well as the need to solve this problem. However, the beginnings of forming a population climate are accompanied by a series of thoughts, standpoints and assertions among experts and politicians which demographers define as misjudgments. This paper tries to indicate to the six most common significant incorrect convictions which are relevant for defining and carrying out of a population policy. It is believed that highly emotional evaluation of the phenomenon of insufficient births provokes a lot of thought on this matter, reasons and solutions are sought, and the problem is even minimized due to a feeling of helplessness when facing it, even outside demographic circles, namely among highly educated people who do not have specific knowledge. Nevertheless, these misjudgements should be corrected, because the biggest problem facing the population policy is in fact connected to forming individual and social reproductive consciousness.

Ever since the 1990's the number of registered abortions in Serbia has been decreasing from year to year. Are the abortion data of the Public Health Institute complete? In other words, has there been a qualitative shift in the sphere of reproductive behavior of Serbia's population in the last two decades? This paper deals with the raised question in three ways. First, in an indirect way, by analyzing whether a radical change in birth control since the 1990's has been possible, having in mind the complexity of the abortion issue in Serbia, as well as the broad social context regarding the last decade of the last century and beginning of this one. The second way deals more directly with the quality of the official data on abortions. Namely, the great decrease in the number of induced abortions, theoretically observed, may be a consequence of the increased level of births, or possibly acceleration in the birth control transition from the use of traditional and inefficient contraception to the usage of modern and efficient methods and means for conception control. For this reason, population fertility trends were analyzed, with a special review on the time period from the 1990's till present day and the results of the available surveyed researches on the structure of contraception usage in order to determine whether objective assumptions exist for the decrease in the number of induced abortions or not. The third way to reach an answer to the raised question in the title was attempted by estimating the scope of induced abortions. In that sense, relevant literature was consulted and the Westoff method chosen for calculating the rate of total abortions in Serbia (excluding Kosovo and Metohia) in the year 2006. After examining the set task from all three sides, there seemed to be no doubt that the official data on the number of abortions in Serbia are not realistic. The basic reason for incomplete official data on abortions seems to be the fact that in most cases induced abortions performed in private health clinics are not included. Moreover, nurses, namely doctors often experience the filling out of prescribed forms for registration of fetal death as unnecessary, imposed, an additional obligation, without sensing the meaning and not understanding the significance of data as such. The abortion problem in Serbia is serious, complex and demands solving. This assumes the carrying out of many measures, including solving the matter of induced abortions registration. Determination of the realistic number of abortions in a community is very important, because in that way attention is drawn to this health and social problem and enables evaluation of actions to be taken for its alleviation. It remains that the state is to pay due attention to the problem of abortions in Serbia and to put private health clinics in which gynecologists perform abortions under control, as well as to promote the role and significance of statistics among health workers. .

The 1990s represent an exceptionally complex period for the population of Serbia. In addition to the impact of long-term factors, various tumultuous events affected its demographic development. How have these changes, or better to say dramatic events, affected an individual?s decision to have children? We tried to get an answer to the set question by analyzing cohort fertility rates. Examination of the average number of live births for women ages 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 and 50-54 in the year 2002 indicated that demographic cost was almost unregistered. However, as for the younger age cohorts of women, between 25 and 34 years old, the average number of live births in 2002 was lower than in 1991 for women of the same age group. The results of an in-depth non-representative research carried out during the nineties indicate that parenthood is the most important life aspiration and goal per se in the individual system of values, independent from age in our country. Therefore it seems that postponing births in conditions of long-term and great social crisis during the 1990-s, was an important reason of lower rates of cohort fertility of women born between 1977 and 1968. But certainly not the only reason. This is also seen in the low rates of cohort fertility of women of age 20-24 in the year 2002, in relation to the average number of live births of women of the same age group in 1991.

The representative survey results - made in 2001 and includes 1000 women aged
20 and 39 years - confirmed that the diffusion of conservative birth control
in which the use of coitus interruptus dominates and the consequential
resort of induce abortion in cases of pregnancies which are unwanted or
cannot be accepted is the main reproductive health problem of the Montenegro
population. The traditional birth control methods are very much incorporated
in the system of values, considered a natural part of sexual intercourse,
and therefore seen to be a rational choice. These facts open a number of
questions, among which the most important one is why women are not relying
on modern contraceptive methods and means? Research findings discover a
complex array of factors, including a belief that modern contraceptive
methods are harmful to health and a number of psychological barriers, also
those arising from relationships with partners. On the other hand, the
initial hypothesis that sexually transmitted diseases are one of the
problems of the reproductive health of the population of Montenegro was not
confirmed. However, it seems that the obtained data on this subject are not
realistic having in mind not only the delicacy of the questions but also the
specificity of the general conditions including all accompanying changes of
the economic system transition, openness for challenges of the modern way of
life and great movements of the population. In contrast to the dilemma,
though, regarding the widely distributed sexually transmitted diseases, the
research results indicated that infertility, primary and secondary, is not
widespread and that it certainly is not considered as one of the problems of
the reproductive health of the population of Montenegro.

This paper is made up of three parts. The first part provides an analysis of
the family planning program adopted by the Government of Serbia in early
1998. In addition to the targets, measures and the institutional basis of
the activities envisaged by the program, attention is also given to the
evaluation of the document itself. It is highlighted that formulation of the
elements of the family planning program and their adoption constitute only
the first step and that the success of the program shall largely depend on
the manner of its operationalization, and particularly, on the
implementation of the proposed measures and activities. In the first part of
the paper, the author also asserts that the document adopted neither
included the points of particular interest nor the specific conditions for
implementing the program-related activities in the context of rural
population. Hence, the second and the third parts discuss the research
findings regarding rural population of Serbia and the pragmatic experience
acquired by other countries in carrying out similar activities. The
information gathered in the 1990s by means of questionnaires conducted in
low and high-fertility regions was analyzed to highlight the need for
implementing the program in rural population and to assess the prospects of
the program-related efforts pertaining to a change in reproductive behavior.
The summary experience gained in implementing family planning programs in
other countries, and concretization of different elements of the activities
undertaken was observed from the point of view of the need to operationalize
family planning programs in Serbia.

Infertility is a significant challenge, both on individual and macro levels. The overall aim of this paper is to contribute to better understanding infertility in Serbia by analysing relevant policies and programmes, data on the epidemiology of infertility, health services, and research findings. The investigation is grounded in the action research methodology, which is built on a shared process of reflection between researchers and participants on selected data and documents. The legal framework reflects modern approaches to a number of challenges in this area. Since the end of 2006, the Republic Health Insurance Fund (RHIF) has been financing the National Infertility Treatment Program with biomedically assisted reproduction (BMAR) procedures. The data on the epidemiology of infertility is not sufficiently addressed in health statistics and representative research. The quality of infertility treatment in Serbia is on par with developed countries, but it doesn?t include the donation of reproductive cells and surrogacy. There is also a lack of research on various aspects of infertility in Serbia from the perspective of different scientific disciplines. It is also hard to understand why, despite considerable possibilities for individual solutions to the problem of infertility in Serbia, the share of children born from BMAR procedures is relatively low.

The problem of a large number of abortions in our country was first pointed
out as far back as 1935 at the 17th Congress of Yugoslav Physicians. The
abortion problem in Serbia is still present today, even though modern science
has provided new methods and means which are a logical solution to the
dilemma on birth control methods from the health and social aspect. Namely,
total abortion rate in Serbia was estimated at 2.76 in the year 2007. It is
very high; double the number of the total fertility rate and among the
highest in Europe and the world. The term abortion culture was first used, as
far as we know, by Henry David in the introduction of the book From Abortion
to Contraception - A Resource to Public Policies and Reproductive Behavior in
Central and Eastern Europe from 1917 to the Present in 1999, without
specifically determining it. The aim of this paper is to identify the most
important factors of the deterministic basis of endemic induced abortions in
Serbia together with indirectly estimating their connection with the
existence, namely nonexistence, of the abortion culture in our country. In
that sense, potential factors of abortion incidence in Serbia which emerge
from the social system and those connected to the individual level have been
considered. In other words, a series of laws and other legal and political
documents have been analyzed which are significant for perceiving the
abortion matter, as well as institutional frameworks for family planning,
health services, educating the youth regarding reproductive health, including
findings of numerous researches carried out among women of various age and
doctors from 1990 till present day in Serbia. The following most significant
factors for the long duration of the abortion problem have been singled out:
insufficient knowledge of modern contraception, a belief that modern
contraceptive methods are harmful to health and a number of psychological
barriers as well as those arising from relationships with partners.
Gynecological attitudes about modern contraception and behavior do not differ
significantly from the rest of the population. Additionally, there are few
organized efforts to promote sex education, as well as limitations in the
family planning programme. Distinguished macro and micro factors of
traditional birth control in Serbia confirm the existence of the abortion
culture. The nature of these factors though, indicate to the presence of the
abortion culture in our country on the political, educational, health and
individual level. The abortion culture obstructs the adoption of a modern
concept of family planning and points out to the persistence of the abortion
problem in our country in the years to come.

Traditional inefficient contraception, incorporated to a large extent in the system of values, has become a natural part of sexual relations in Serbia and represents a rational preventive choice from the individual standpoint. However, when pregnancy is unwanted or cannot be accepted out of any reasons abortion is used as a resort. For this reason there is a long history of a large number of abortions in Serbia. Research findings in our country identify the following, as the most important factors for not accepting modern values in this sphere: traditional contraception and abortion have a firm social confirmation; there is a trans-generational transfer of psychological resistance towards the use of combined oral contraception pills and intrauterine devices; sexual education has never become a natural way of growing up in the family, nor is a constituent part of school programs and that distinct obstacles of various nature exist regarding contraception availability. A developed network of various types of family planning counseling is an important determinant of the accessibility of contraceptive means and methods. There are, however, numerous conditions which have to be fulfilled in order for the contraception counseling services to function properly. Among them, motivated personnel who acquired general and specific knowledge for work in this field are an especially important prerequisite. This theoretical assumption opens the question -whether gynecologists represent an important factor of slow transition of birth control in Serbia? We searched for the answer in the research analyses obtained through two in-depth surveys which either had to do with this theme or tried to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of gynecologists. The first research regarding the determination of the causes for a large number of abortions in our country, was directed towards women who decided on abortion. Gynecologists were the target group in the second research which was KAP type. The results of both researches clearly indicate that gynecologists generally observed, contribute to maintaining the abortion culture and slow transition of birth control from the use of traditional contraception to reliance on modern contraception means and methods in Serbia. Namely, a significant number of gynecologists in our country are at variance with the principals of modern family planning. Their knowledge, attitudes and practice relevant for individual contraceptive choices are insufficient, conservative and inadequate. Thus, there is a necessity for special education of doctors especially gynecologists, at all levels from the basic studies, through specialists ones, to special target courses, seminars, symposiums and conferences. Knowledge acquisition, as the basic element of consciousness can affect formation of standpoints, motivation, promote responsibility and create the requirement for promoting a different system of values and philosophy of living in the sphere of reproductive health.