Why Serbian Women Choose Abortion: A Closer Look

In Serbia, abortions remain common despite the availability of various contraceptive methods. A recent study has shed light on the primary reasons behind women's decisions to terminate pregnancies, both for the first and subsequent times.

Key Findings

• Primary Reasons for Abortion:
• 44% of women cited having enough children already.

• 42% pointed to financial struggles as their main concern.

• Demographics:
• The study focused on women aged 16 to 49 who had abortions between 2022 and 2024.
• Most women had multiple reasons for their decision.

• Least Common Reasons:

• Concerns about weight gain or body changes during pregnancy were the least cited.

• Other Influencing Factors:
• Being single or not in a serious relationship.

• Having a physically demanding job.

• Repeat Abortions:
• More than half of the women had more than one abortion, indicating that contraception alone is not sufficient to reduce abortion rates.

Implications and Recommendations

The findings underscore the need for:

• Better sex education.
• Support for women's financial and relationship stability.

Policymakers should address these root causes to effectively reduce abortion rates.