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Serbia: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "400px | thumb|right| '''OVERVIEW''' While there is certainly room for improvement, you can find many health care options in Serbia. You can...")
 
 
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===Laws & Social Stigmas===
===Laws & Social Stigmas===


In Serbia, you can purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Globral Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> While there are minimal religious or moral stigmas attached to birth control pills, according to locals, some women may avoid the pill because they consider it detrimental to hormonal health.  
In Serbia, you can purchase condoms and birth control pills at pharmacies without a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth?]</ref> However, for other forms of birth control, such as implants, injectables, and IUDs, you may need to directly visit a hospital or clinic to obtain them.


When discussing contraception in Serbia, it's important to consider the state of sex education. As of September 2016, Serbia has no nationwide sex education in public schools,<ref>[http://www.telegraf.rs/english/2375458-sex-education-introduced-in-serbian-schools Sex education introduced in Serbian schools!]</ref> although at least one province has introduced an optional sex education program.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/sex-education-classes-kick-off-in-serbian-province Serbian Province Launches Sex Education Classes]</ref> Most recently, in 2017, the Education Ministry began instructing teachers of preschool and secondary schools to include material on sexual abuse and incest into their curriculum. This has inflamed some conservatives who worry about discussions of sexuality or the "LGBT" lifestyle in the classroom.<ref>[https://sputniknews.com/europe/201704221052884737-serbia-sex-education/ Serb Kids to Listen About LGBT, Non-Trad Sex During Lessons Against Child Abuse]</ref> In total, sex education remains uncommon and even taboo in parts of Serbia, which therefore makes discussion of contraceptive options all the more uncomfortable for some women.
While there are minimal religious or moral stigmas attached to birth control pills, according to locals, some women may avoid the pill because they consider it detrimental to hormonal health.
 
When discussing contraception in Serbia, it's important to consider the state of sex education. As of September 2016, Serbia has no nationwide sex education in public schools,<ref>[http://www.telegraf.rs/english/2375458-sex-education-introduced-in-serbian-schools Sex education introduced in Serbian schools!]</ref> although at least one province has introduced an optional sex education program.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/sex-education-classes-kick-off-in-serbian-province Serbian Province Launches Sex Education Classes]</ref> In total, sex education remains uncommon and even taboo in parts of Serbia, which therefore makes discussion of contraceptive options all the more uncomfortable for some women.


When examining Serbian family planning policies, one must consider the country's recent history. From the end of WWII to 1991, Serbia was a part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
When examining Serbian family planning policies, one must consider the country's recent history. From the end of WWII to 1991, Serbia was a part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
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* You can find condoms in Belgrade pharmacies. Typically, Durex brand condoms are sold.
* You can find condoms in Belgrade pharmacies. Typically, Durex brand condoms are sold.
* You can buy '''birth control pills''' in Serbia without a prescription at pharmacies. Some brands you can expect to see are Neogynon, Stediril, Stediril-d and Microgynon-30.<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/ Princeton EC Website]</ref> Note that progestin-only pills, like Cerazette and Azalia, are not sold in Serbia (as of May 2017), so local women tend to purchase them in Croatia or Hungary (and then bring them back to Serbia), if they prefer progestin-only pills.
* You can buy '''birth control pills''' in Serbia without a prescription at pharmacies. Some brands you can expect to see are Neogynon, Stediril, Stediril-d and Microgynon-30.<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/ Princeton EC Website]</ref> Note that progestin-only pills, like Cerazette and Azalia, are not sold in all Serbian pharmacies (as of May 2017), so some local women tend to purchase them in Croatia or Hungary (and then bring them back to Serbia). However, other pharmacies do carry progestin-only pills in Serbia.
* If you have a prescription for birth control from another country, you can probably get the prescription filled in a Belgrade pharmacy. Bring the prescription with you and show it to the pharmacist.
* If you have a prescription for birth control from another country, you can probably get the prescription filled in a Belgrade pharmacy. Bring the prescription with you and show it to the pharmacist.
* You can get an '''IUD''' in Serbia, where you'll find the Mirena and Novaplus brand at pharmacies.<ref>[Conversation with Belgrade pharmacist, May 2017]</ref> It is typically used by women who have already had children, but it's not commonly used in general in Serbia. One local said: "I don't know the price or if they will give them to a younger woman." If you know of gynecologists giving IUDs to younger, unmarried or women without children in Serbia, please add information to this section.
* You can get an '''IUD''' in Serbia, where you'll find the Mirena and Novaplus brand at pharmacies.<ref>[Conversation with Belgrade pharmacist, May 2017]</ref> It is typically used by women who have already had children, but it's not commonly used in general in Serbia. One local said: "I don't know the price or if they will give them to a younger woman." If you know of gynecologists giving IUDs to younger, unmarried or women without children in Serbia, please add information to this section.
* You can find the '''contraceptive ring (Nuvaring)''' in Belgrade pharmacies.<ref>[Conversation with Belgrade pharmacist]</ref>
* You may be able to find '''contraceptive ring (Nuvaring)''' in Belgrade pharmacies.<ref>[Conversation with Belgrade pharmacist]</ref> However, local women report it difficult to find and often say that they've never seen it.
* According to a Belgrade local, '''contraceptive shots/injectables''' are not available in Serbia.
* According to a Belgrade local, '''contraceptive shots/injectables''' are not available in Serbia.
* It seems like '''contraceptive patches''' aren't available in Serbia (as of May 2017). One Belgrade pharmacist says, "We don't have contraceptive patches in my pharmacy, nor i'm know more of their current availability."<ref>[Conversation with Belgrade pharmacist, May 2017]</ref> Also, no contraceptive patches are listed on the official Serbia page from the International Planned Parenthood contraceptive database.
* It seems like '''contraceptive patches''' aren't available in Serbia (as of May 2017). One Belgrade pharmacist says, "We don't have contraceptive patches in my pharmacy, nor [am I aware of] their current availability."<ref>[Conversation with Belgrade pharmacist, May 2017]</ref> Also, no contraceptive patches are listed on the official Serbia page from the International Planned Parenthood contraceptive database.


===Costs===
===Costs===
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==List of Additional Resources==
==List of Additional Resources==


* Click [https://www.equaldex.com/region/serbia here] to learn about LGBTQ rights and laws in Serbia.
* [https://www.womenngo.org.rs/en/ Autonomous Women's Center - Belgrade]: This is a feminist NGO, founded in 1993, that focuses on women's empowerment, education, issues related to gender-based violence, etc. They also work on issues related to multiple forms of discrimination faced by women, such as Roma women, women with disabilities, etc. Address: Tiršova 5a, 11000 Belgrade. Email: azc@azc.org.rs. For consultations, call +381 11 266 2222. Email: tt@azc.org.rs
* [https://www.womenngo.org.rs/en/ Autonomous Women's Center - Belgrade]: This is a feminist NGO, founded in 1993, that focuses on women's empowerment, education, issues related to gender-based violence, etc. They also work on issues related to multiple forms of discrimination faced by women, such as Roma women, women with disabilities, etc. Address: Tiršova 5a, 11000 Belgrade. Email: azc@azc.org.rs. For consultations, call +381 11 266 2222. Email: tt@azc.org.rs
* [http://zeneucrnom.org/ Women in Black]: This is an antimilitarist group, formed in the former Yugoslavia (during the war). It's been a pivotal group in the history of Serbian women's mobilization.
* [http://zeneucrnom.org/ Women in Black]: This is an antimilitarist group, formed in the former Yugoslavia (during the war). It's been a pivotal group in the history of Serbian women's mobilization.
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* [http://www.poslovnezene.org.rs/en/ Association of Business Women in Serbia]: Focuses on female entrepreneurship.
* [http://www.poslovnezene.org.rs/en/ Association of Business Women in Serbia]: Focuses on female entrepreneurship.
* [https://www.facebook.com/sveokontracepciji/ Kontracepcija - sve što jeste i niste znali]: This Facebook provides educational information for women in Serbia about contraception.
* [https://www.facebook.com/sveokontracepciji/ Kontracepcija - sve što jeste i niste znali]: This Facebook provides educational information for women in Serbia about contraception.
* [http://www.zenskestudie.edu.rs/en/ Women’s Studies Center]: "Women’s Studies Center is an autonomous, non-profit, non-governmental organization, independent in its work from political structures or groups. Mission of the Center for Women’s Studies is to create and promote models which celebrate differences. One of the aims is to theoretically point out the possibilities of resistance and political challenge against social practices of discrimination and exclusion based on gender, nationality, sexuality, color, class, religion and others. Long-term strategy of the Center is to develop academic educational programs which are grounded in the right to be different." Address: Centar za ženske studije Jove Ilića 165, 11 040 Beograd, Serbia. Tel/fax: +381 11 2491 219. Tel: +381 11 30 92 999/ext. 963. E-mail: zenske.studije@gmail.com


==References==
==References==

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