Abortion in Italy: statistical-epidemiological update.

Abstract

During seven years (from 1987 to 1994) the annual incidence of legally induced abortions in Italy was reduced from 191.499 to 136.481 (-28,7%). The index per 1.000 live births falled from 347 (1987) to 234 (1994), with a decrement of -32,5%. Also the rate per 1.000 women (15 to 49 years old) shifted from 13,3 (1987) to 9,5 (1994).

It has been observed a little increase for the teen-ager’s group. The comparison with “spontaneous abortion” showed out that many regions, with lower index of induced abortion, have a higher rate of spontaneous abortions. The Author assumes that some percentage of spontaneous abortions are truly voluntary abortion.

The chances of outliving for human foetus, at the second month of prenatal life, are not similar in the different regions (e.g.: in Veneto are 80%, in Liguria, Piemonte, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Toscana are only of 65%).

The comparison with the progress toward perinatal and infant mortality confirmes that in Italy, on the contrary confirms that in many regions, the abortion still remains a serious problem of preventive medicine and of social life.