The use value of preschool institution space as a element of socio-demographic development

The aim of the paper is a critical sociological analysis of the space of preschool institutions and the design the capacity of the space of preschool institutions, in accordance with the norms proposed within the European social model and the Master Plan of Belgrade. In accordance with the model assumptions, the practice of recommended norms is expected to produce transformational potential by initiating a chain of positive changes, starting with the elimination of systemic risks through decommodification of care for preschool children and production of politically correct space of higher use value, through increasing the coverage of the preschool contingent by state primary schools, to a favorable impact on stimulating birth. Paper Subject -use value of preschool institutions in Serbia, and the Belgrade municipalities Zvezdara and Savski Venac. Statistical analysis, preschool institutions spatial capacity analysis, comparative method, critical analysis were the analysis used in this paper. The following indicators were used to measure the use value of preschool institutions space: percentage of children attending preschools in Serbia, percentage of children attending preschools according to the type of preschool ownership, percentage of children attending public preschools, compliance of the available space in public preschools in the municipalities of Zvezdara and Savski Venac with the valid norms. The final section contains a proposal of spatial capacities which are believed to have sufficient transformational potential, for the purposes of initiating the positive chain of changes in the direction of sustainable social and demographic development.

Socio-demographic characteristics of postpartum women on family planning and population policy measures in the Republic of Srpska

The study focuses on the socio-demographic analysis of postpartum women's perception of family planning and population policy measures in the Republic of Srpska. The demographic method, the structured analysis and the statistical processing of data obtained from a questionnaire conducted with a representative sample of surveys were performed for the purpose of the research. The main hypothesis is grounded on current tendencies of insufficient number of births, negative birth rates, population aging and the widespread single life in the Republic of Srpska. In this regard, it is essential to reflect on the fertile potential of postpartum women, their model of reproductive behavior and attitude towards family planning and current population policy measures. The analysis of postpartum women's perception confirmed the hypothesis that there was a necessity for additional verification of prenatal population policy measures in the Republic of Srpska as most surveys expressed desire to have more children. The obtained results may be considered valid for adopting policies and recommendations with an aim to conduct prenatal measures within the population policy in the Republic of Srpska.

Age waves of baby boom and baby bust generations through arithmetic and geometric coefficients of population ageing in Serbia

Age waves is theoretical concept that take into account the importance of disordered cohort flows, mainly as by-product of demographic transition (fluctuating fertility and improved survival), but also external factors (especially wars). The primary age wave as a consequence of high births after the Second World War in Serbia did not remain an isolated phenomenon, but created a secondary cohort wave although the fertility indicators were declining, which is visible as the thickening of the pyramid base in 1981 due to the absolute increase in births. Cohort "tide" has influenced the shape of the pyramid to longer retain the properties of the stationary type because the baby boom generation reproduced the "echo" generation, which is a counterbalance to extreme demographic aging as the baby boom generation entered the contingent of the old population. A cohort analysis of the elderly population shows that the declining share of the elderly in a certain age group is typical for cohorts born during turbulent times, most often wars, while cohorts born afterwards form more numerous generations. A half-century characteristic of the Serbian population is an absolute increase of people older than 65, but it does not automatically mean an adequate increase in the relative share of the elderly because it depends on the number of other age groups and their cohort trajectories. The methodological tool that can valorize heterogeneity of the old population is important for societies with past oscillations in fertility and migratory movements. In this study, the usefulness of the arithmetic and geometric coefficients of aging was tested on the example of baby boom and baby bust generations and their position in the old population, revealing periods when rejuvenation or aging of the old has dominated.

Gender roles and education as elements for the explanation of fertility by the type of settlement in Serbia

This text is aimed at the consideraton of differences related to fertility of urban and non-urban settlements in Serbia, from the point of view of differentiation concerning education and gender roles. The discussion framework consists of the results of relevant empirical researches that consider gender equality, as well as the presented data about level of education for both types of settlements. In terms of fertility, we used census data and presented two indicators. These are the cumulative live birth rates and the shares of women who have not given birth. The focus is on the generations born in the second half of the 20th century, observing the cohorts that are in the reproductive period, as well as those that came out. Differences between urban and non-urban settlements are not only observed for Serbia as a whole, but are also placed within the framework of statical regional areas. The decline in cumulative fertility, the postponement of parenthood and the shares of women without children both in the optimal reproductive period and in the cohorts at the end of reproductive period are more pronounced in the urban population. However, these tendencies also have existed in non-urban settlements, despite the fact that the observed fertility indicators do not reflect the difficulty of regulating low fertility in this type of settlement. Very low cumulative fertility rates in the urban settlements are the result of insufficient adjustment of the institutional framework to emancipatory processes in the sphere of gender roles. The negative effects of traditional patriarchy in non-urban settlements are more visible through some other demographic indicators that are closely related to the issue of low fertility. Hence, the importance of the gender aspect cannot be neglected when it comes to non-urban settlements.