Childbearing decision-making in Ukrainian cities during Russia’s full-scale invasion

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has created immense uncertainty for the Ukrainian population and exacerbated fertility decline. Ukraine’s Total Fertility Rate, which was already estimated to be around 1.2 in 2021, has plunged even further, potentially to as low as 0.9 in 2023.

Yet views and experiences of childbearing during war are not straightforward. In 2023, Brienna conducted 22 in-depth online-interviews and 3 focus-groups with women aged 18 to 39 residing in three Ukrainian cities to better understand individual and societal-level perspectives on childbearing decision-making. Although this sample cannot be viewed as representative, the interviews demonstrate a diversity of views behind fertility outcomes.

On the one hand, war produces widespread fear, trauma, economic instability, and spousal separation, which lead to decisions to delay or forego childbearing. On the other hand, uncertainty about the war's duration, coupled with a strong sense of life's fragility and traditional views on family, can motivate a desire to have a child immediately. These interviews suggest that war can have widely varying, often conflicting effects.

This event will be particularly useful for researchers, policymakers, students and academics.

Related links

• QSS and CLS seminar series
• Quantitative Social Science
• Centre for Longitudinal Studies
• Social Research Institute

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DmyTo via Adobe Stock.