In Serbia, the sexually active population mainly uses traditional contraceptive methods and, due to their reduced efficiency, often faces unwanted pregnancies and resorts to induced abortions.
In Belgrade alone, a total of 3,574 abortions were performed in 2021, although it is estimated that the number was significantly higher, announced the Institute of Public Health in Belgrade on 26 September, which is World Contraception Day.
According to the results of the health survey of residents of Serbia, conducted by the Dr Milan Jovanović Batut Public Health Institute, in 2019, two-fifths of women aged 15-49 (40.4 per cent), who were sexually active during the observed period, used one of the contraceptives or methods (pill, intrauterine device, hormonal injection, hormonal implant, diaphragm, foam or gel, female or male condom, female or male sterilisation). The percentage of women in the same age group, married or cohabiting, who used contraceptives was lower and stood at 34.8%.
17.1% of women aged 15-49 used unreliable contraceptive methods (including infertile days, interrupted intercourse, so-called ‘morning-after’ pills). Women aged 15-34 used unreliable contraceptive methods much less often.
According to the results of the above-mentioned research, in the population of 15-19 year olds, 55.6% stated that they had used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. Boys use contraception (condoms) more frequently than girls (61.0% vs. 48.2%).
Looking at the data from the survey on Multiple Indicators of the Position of Women and Children in Serbia 2019, conducted by the State Statistical Office and UNICEF, among modern methods of contraception, male condoms (15.1%), combined with oral contraception (3.0%), intrauterine devices (2.6%) and female sterilisation (0.6%) are used most often, while diaphragms, spermicides, progestin oral contraceptives, preparations, implants and voluntary male sterilisation are used the least.
In terms of traditional contraception methods, the method of interrupted intercourse prevails (31.4%), while avoiding intercourse on ‘fertile days’ and other ‘natural methods’ was used by 9.5% of respondents. 37.7% of the respondents stated that they had never used any contraceptive method.
(Danas, 26.09.2022)