On Wednesday, March 25, corresponding member of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Mirjana Rašević, delivered a lecture at the SANU branch in Novi Sad. The topic of the lecture was “Sexual and Reproductive Health.” In her engaging presentation, Professor Rašević highlighted the persistently low level of fertility, the likelihood of achieving desired fertility, and the gap between desired and realized childbearing.
She also addressed risky behaviors among young people, noting that a significant proportion of couples rely on coitus interruptus. She emphasized that traditional methods of contraception and induced abortion continue to have strong social acceptance, alongside a pronounced intergenerational transmission of psychological resistance toward modern contraceptive methods. Furthermore, sexual education is neither a natural component of upbringing within the family nor systematically integrated into school curricula. In her view, reliance on coitus interruptus often serves to avoid perceived conflicts between sexuality and technology, potential disagreements between partners, and interaction with healthcare providers.
In conclusion, Professor Rašević stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in both the education and healthcare systems in order to address the identified challenges in the field of sexual and reproductive health.
