Experience dictating practice? A multilevel approach to the study of induced abortion among migrant women in Italy

Abstract:

Over-representation of foreign women or ethnic minorities in national abortion statistics and estimates of unintended pregnancies has been observed in many receiving countries, emerging as a topic of the greatest interest in the analysis of the sexual and reproductive health ofminorities in developed countries. In Italy too the high incidence of induced abortion has become a priority issue in the health of migrant women. Using the data from the first Survey of Sexual and Reproductive Health of Migrant Women conducted in Italy in 2010 this analysishighlights the role of personal and community characteristics, along with use of contraception in the occurrence of induced abortion.
Data shows that women who had an abortion before migration are at higher risk of experiencing an abortion after migration. While contraceptive use is widespread, unsafe methods are often chosen, which in turn means a high risk factor. The legislation in the country of origin plays an importantrole in shaping pre-migration experience, as do low age at first intercourse and low ideal number of children.
The results suggest that the high incidence of abortion among immigrants is related both to a general ‘exportation’ of the use of abortion as a means of controlling fertility by female working migrants and to the generalized prevalence of unsafe contraception. These findings provideuseful information to health authorities to reduce the gap between migrants and natives in abortion rates.