From Abortion to Contraception: A Resource to Public Policies and Reproductive Behavior in Central and Eastern Europe from 1917 to the Present

(Hardback)

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Within an interdisciplinary context of public health, reproductive health and women's rights, this book chronicles the interaction of public policies and private reproductive behaviour in the 28 formerly socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the USSR successor states from 1917 to the present. Focusing on the interaction of public policies and private behaviours, special emphasis is placed on the status of women - from producers of labour to reproducers of families. Consideration is given to societal values and traditions, Marxist theory, socialist and patriarchal perceptions of gender roles, status of women, changes in legislation facilitating or constraining access to modern contraceptives and abortion, pronatalist influences on demographic trends, attitudes of public health service providers, views on sex education, adolescent sexual behaviour, and emerging roles of public services and nongovernmental organizations. Included are notes on key developments in the USSR successor states in Europe and in Asia, a discussion of the societal effects of post-socialist transitions from central planning to market economies, and commentaries on the changing emphasis from demographic aspects to reproductive and sexual health, postabortion psychological responses, and the activities of antiabortion-oriented religious organizations. To the extent available, statistical data tabulated include live birth, legally induced abortions, birth rates, legal abortion rates, legal abortion ratios, and total fertility rates. Over 1250 references are listed.

Reviews

"The book fills in a significant information gap presenting both historical and current data on fertility and birth control in the countries which for decades lived behind the iron curtain and hid their vital statistics, demographic and social data as top state secret....The book would be very useful for the scholars of gender relations, demographic policy, social and medical aspects of fertility and family planning, and for all those interested in post-communist and transitional societies."-Social Science & Medicine Journal
"From Abortion to Contraception addresses a very important subject, the essential right of women everywhere to control their reproductive functions. This brilliant collection of essays, skillfully edited by David, chronicles this very public and very private issue as it has evolved over the last 80 years in Central and Eastern Europe. Every essay clearly and thoroughly explores and integrates critical political, sociocultural, and mental health issues peculiar to this region, providing a breadth and depth of material heretofore unavailable in one volume."-Florence L. Denmark Robert Scott Pace, Distinguished Professor and Chair of Psychology Pace University
"Henry David has systematically followed developments for over 30 years and kept the profession and interested others informed. The sources of his profound knowledge are not restricted to statistical data and the literature, but have their roots in continuous collaboration with numerous researchers in the region and in his personal involvement in ground-breaking investigations. The book tells it all. Two thumbs up!"-Tomas Frejka Former Senior Population Expert UN Economic Commission for Europe and Former Senior Associate The Population Council, New York
"This is a remarkable book by a remarkable author. It reflects Henry David's insightful scholarly understanding of policy and practice, as well as his humanistic spirit. He is able to humanize and give meaning to statistical trends, historical shifts, and demographics analysis. This volume spans a key epoch in changing reproductive technology and reproductive choice, in an important part of the world. It will provide vital information to historians, demographers, policy-makers, political scientists, psychologists, and health and human rights advocates."-Nancy E. Adler Professor of Medical Psychology Director, Center for Health and Community University of California, San Francisco
"Thoroughly researched and meticulously documented, this impressive volume is an invaluable resource for understanding interrelationships among public policy, reproductive health and behavior, and women's roles and status. Its breadth of coverage--encompassing seven decades of socialist rule and a decade of postsocialist transition in 28 countries--make it a must for the historian's library."-Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Regents Professor Arizona State University
"With nearly 1,300 references, "From Abortion to Contraception" will be an invaluable resource not only for demographers and experts in reproductive health but also for a broader range of social science researchers, policy makers, and historians."-Sergei V. Zakharov Head of Laboratory Centre for Demography and Human Ecology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow
The book fills in a significant information gap presenting both historical and current data on fertility and birth control in the countries which for decades lived behind the iron curtain and hid their vital statistics, demographic and social data as top state secret....The book would be very useful for the scholars of gender relations, demographic policy, social and medical aspects of fertility and family planning, and for all those interested in post-communist and transitional societies.-Social Science & Medicine Journal
[T]he amount of data and analysis presented here for countries that have not been thoroughly researched by the West is quite impressive.-Feminist Collections
I applaud Henry and his colleagues on their important contribution to the advancement of reproductive health and women's rights. I commend their efforts to place contraception and abortion in the context of gender equality and women's status. Given its breadth and depth of information and its demographers but also for historians, policy-makers, social scientists, public health and women studies scholars, and health and human rights advocates.-APA Division 34 Newsletter
There is also an impressive bibliography, containing more than 1,290 references, which, to quote Posadskaya, alone are worth the price of the book.' This comprehensive resource book deserves to be read by everybody who is interested in East Central Europe, demography, public policies, the family, and women's studies.-Canadian Slavonic Papers
This impressive volume provides a comprehensive, archival, and historical record of public policy, reproductive behavior and women's rights in Central and Eastern Europe.... All chapters are well written, thoroughly researched and meticulously documented....Given its bredth and depth of information and its quality and coherence, this book is an invaluable resource not only for demographers but also for historians, policy-makers, social scientists, public health and women studies scholars, and health and human rights activists.-Population and Environmental Psychology Bulletin
"The amount of data and analysis presented here for countries that have not been thoroughly researched by the West is quite impressive."-Feminist Collections
"[T]he amount of data and analysis presented here for countries that have not been thoroughly researched by the West is quite impressive."-Feminist Collections
"I applaud Henry and his colleagues on their important contribution to the advancement of reproductive health and women's rights. I commend their efforts to place contraception and abortion in the context of gender equality and women's status. Given its breadth and depth of information and its demographers but also for historians, policy-makers, social scientists, public health and women studies scholars, and health and human rights advocates."-APA Division 34 Newsletter
"There is also an impressive bibliography, containing more than 1,290 references, which, to quote Posadskaya, alone are worth the price of the book.' This comprehensive resource book deserves to be read by everybody who is interested in East Central Europe, demography, public policies, the family, and women's studies."-Canadian Slavonic Papers
"This impressive volume provides a comprehensive, archival, and historical record of public policy, reproductive behavior and women's rights in Central and Eastern Europe.... All chapters are well written, thoroughly researched and meticulously documented....Given its bredth and depth of information and its quality and coherence, this book is an invaluable resource not only for demographers but also for historians, policy-makers, social scientists, public health and women studies scholars, and health and human rights activists."-Population and Environmental Psychology Bulletin

Author Bio

HENRY P. DAVID is the Founder and Director of the Transnational Family Research Institute, a nonprofit and nongovernmental research organization in the behavioral sciences with offices located in Bethesda, MD nnyvale, CA ngkok, Thailand noi, Vietnam xico City, Mexico scow, Russia d Prague, Czech Republic.