Induced abortion, contraception and unmet need for family planning among African immigrants in Italy

Patrizia Farina, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca
Livia Ortensi, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca

From ’80 abortion rates among Italian women steadily declined to 8,3 per thousand in 2009 and is now one of the lowest among developed countries. Such a general decrease hides an opposite trend for migrant women that actually account for 33% of the total number of abortions (it was 10,1% in 1998). The aims of the study are 1) estimate the abortion rate among African immigrant in Italy and 2) analyze different pattern in induced and repeated abortion among. Estimation for Unmet Need of contraception is also an important focus of the analysis. The research shows the coexistence of two models of abortion: the first shows low levels of induced abortion, performed at high parities, with extremely low rates of relapses. The second model is related to higher intensities, and applies to childless or low parity workers.