[Health aspects of population policies]

In developing countries family planning programmes are the main instrument of the populational policy and an important element of social influence in the domain of the population fertility policy in developed countries. The National Family Planning Programme in the Republic of Serbia was accepted by the Government and established in February, 1998. It is directed towards the improvement of reproductive health through promotion of family planning. The main objectives of the programme are: reduction of maternal, perinatal, neonatal and infants mortality, decrease of the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions, promotion of contraceptive usage, efforts in prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and meeting the needs of adolescents in relation to sexuality and reproduction. The first phase of realization of the Programme involves effective educative seminars for the primary health care workers--physicians of various specialties which are professionally engaged in family planning. Results of this Programme should provide improvement of reproductive health, as well as positive effects on demographic trends in Serbia in future.