FERTILITY PROCESSES IN UKRAINE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Abstract

In Ukraine, during the twentieth century, the birth rate steadily declined, with the exception of two short-term post-war periods. Since the beginning of XXI century, there is a slow increase in fertility after the low level during the crisis in 2001. Among the factors, along with social and gender characteristics and specific demographic structure, major influence belongs to population policy, while the level of socio-economic development makes controversial and unusual effects on fertility. Reproductive health in Ukraine is unsatisfactory, which is caused by current lifestyle, vital behaviour, spread of abortions, particularly among the youngest age groups. In general, abortion rates are declining; there are very substantial spatial differences. Features of the modern age structure of fertility were revealed, that are important for assessing the stage of demographic transition and defining new models of demographic behaviour. The Western Ukraine has the lowest level of early (except the Transcarpathian Region) and illegitimate births. Typology of Ukrainian regions, conducted based on level, structure and birth tendencies indicators, make possible to highlight ten groups of regions and describe major spatial differences. Most adverse trends in fertility can be observed in Sumy, Chernihiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Poltava and Cherkasy regions, while the positive dynamics and almost simple reproduction of generations were noted in Rivne, Transcarpathian and Volyn regions.