IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 43 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.12891/ceog3042.2016

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Original Research
Attitudes towards abortion in Italian women: socio-economic trends and epidemiological features
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1 Department of Gynecological, Obstetrics and Urological Sciences, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Sant’ Andrea Hospital, Rome
2 Department of Law and Economics, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome (Italy)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2016, 43(4), 578–583; https://doi.org/10.12891/ceog3042.2016
Published: 10 August 2016
Abstract

Purpose of investigation: The aim of this study was to analyze trends and attitudes towards abortion in Italian women in the last decades. Materials and Methods: The authors analyzed number, socio-economic trends, and major clinical-epidemiological features of induced abortion in Italy (1980-2009). Results: Up to 1996 abortion rates were higher among married women, but from 1996 to 2009 they were higher among single women. The reduction of abortions has been observed in all age-groups, except in women from 15 to 19 years of age. Abortions were higher among younger women, women without previous abortions, nulliparous women, women with junior and senior high school diplomas (2005-2006), women with an academic degree (2007-2009), and professional women. Conclusion: In Italy, despite the decrease of the abortion rates, voluntary termination of pregnancy is still present and the spread of contraception is scarce. More information about contraception is necessary to help lower the incidence of both unintended pregnancy and abortion.
Keywords
Abortion
Contraception
Italian women
Socio-economic status
Occupational status
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