Serbia health data reveals low modern contraceptive use

Recent health data from Serbia highlights significant challenges regarding contraceptive use and reproductive health. According to the Institute of Public Health of Serbia ‘Dr Milan Jovanović Batut’, only 40.4% of sexually active women aged 15 to 49 in the country use modern contraceptive methods, while 17.1% rely on traditional methods.

In the North Bačka District, 408 abortions were recorded last year. Nearly half of these cases (46.3%) occurred among women aged 30 to 39, followed by women aged 20 to 29 at 36%. The abortion rate in the district has seen a decline from 14.5 in 2023 to 12.9 last year.

Health authorities, including the Public Health Institute Subotica, warn that young people face significant barriers, including social prejudices, low health literacy, and a reliance on unverified information from the internet and social media. These factors often create unfounded fears regarding modern contraceptive methods. Additionally, traditional behavioral patterns often result in insufficient open discussion about sexual and reproductive health, frequently placing the responsibility for preventing unintended pregnancies solely on women.