Abstract
Wesolowski, K. 2015. Maybe Baby? Reproductive Behaviour, Fertility Intentions, and Family Policies
in Post-communist Countries, with a Special Focus on Ukraine. Digital Comprehensive Summaries of
Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Social Sciences 109. 64 pp. Uppsala: Acta Universitatis
Upsaliensis. ISBN 978-91-554-9170-3.
This thesis studies different aspects of reproductive behaviour on the international, national, and local
levels in post-communist countries. The main focus is Ukraine, where fertility rates are very low and
the population is in severe decline. The studies contribute new knowledge about the applicability of a
family policy typology developed on the basis of Western countries’ experience for post-communist
countries, and about the influence of family policies on fertility levels in these countries. Moreover,
the studies investigate whether and how macro-level influences impact on individuals’ reproductive
behaviour. Four articles are included in the thesis:
Family policies in Ukraine and Russia in comparative perspective analyses the institutional set-up of
family policies in both countries and compares the findings to 31 other countries. The results show
that Ukrainian family policies support a male-breadwinner type of family, while the benefit levels of
Russian family policies are low, compelling families to rely on relatives or the childcare market.
Family policies and fertility - Examining the link between family policy institutions and fertility rates
in 33 countries 1995-2010 comparatively explores whether family policies have an effect on fertility
rates across the case-countries. Pooled time-series regression analysis demonstrates that genderegalitarian family policies are connected to higher fertility rates, but that this effect is smaller at higher
rates of female labour force participation.
To have or not to have a child? Perceived constraints on childbearing in a lowest-low fertility context
investigates the influence of the perception of postmodern values, childcare availability and
environmental pollution on individuals’ fertility intentions in a city in Eastern Ukraine. It is shown that
women who already have a child perceive environmental pollution as a constraint on their fertility
intentions.
Prevalence and correlates of the use of contraceptive methods by women in Ukraine in 1999 and
2007 examines changes in the prevalence and the correlates of the use of contraceptive methods. The
use of modern contraceptive methods increased during the period and the use of traditional methods
decreased, while the overall prevalence did not change. Higher exposure to messages about family
planning in the media is correlated with the use of modern contraceptive methods.