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Dr Ivana Dobrivojević

Institute for Contemporary History

Belgrade, Serbia

 

FAMILY PLANNING IN YUGOSLAVIA 1945–1974

Vol. XXXIV, 2/2016, pp. 83–98
https://doi.org/10.29362/ist20veka.2016.2.dob.83-98

 

ABSTRACT/RESUME: Mass migration to cities, economic independence of youth and life without strict family control, most clearly visible in rural areas, had an effect on expression of emotions and sexual liberation. Due to the image created in popular culture, love and romance became an ideal to be pursued. As the number of unwanted pregnancies was steadily rising, Yugoslav authorities promulgated more liberal law on abortion (1960). The main intention of this law was to minimize the consequences of illegal abortion. The reasons for abortion were mainly of socio–economic nature – overemployment of women, severe housing crisis and coexistence of several generations in a single household, relatively low income and higher expectations of life. Authorities tried to stop the upward trend in abortion through health education, popularization of contraception and sexual education of youth. As these efforts turned to be in vain, in 1969 abortion was totally liberalized. Although press wrote extensively on gender relations and sexuality and the modern contraceptive methods were becoming more and more accessible, the population was not sufficiently informed. Thus, abortions were the most widespread method of „birth control“. Their number was steadily rising – 388,933 abortions were performed in 1988 – i. e. abortion ratio was 106,1 abortion per 100 live births.

 

KEYWORDS: abortion, contraception, sexuality, family, emancipation, Yugoslavia, Party

 

SOURCES:

  • Arhiv Jugoslavije (AJ), fond 114, Narodna omladina; fond 142, Socijalistički savez radnog naroda Jugoslavije
  • Ustav Socijalističke Federativne Republike Jugoslavije sa ustavnim zakonom za sprovođenje ustava Socijalističke Federativne Republike Jugoslavije. Beograd: Službeni list, 1974.
  • Službeni list FNRJ

 

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