Legal Abortion in Italy, 1978-1979

Abstract

In May 1978 Italy passed a law requiring the state to provide 1st trimester abortions to women over the age of 17 who do not wish to carry a pregnancy to term. During the 18 month period between June 1 1978 and December 1 1979 over 1/4 of a million abortions were performed free of charge by Italian doctors. More than 9 out of 10 procedures were peformed in hospitals; almost all the procedures were performed under general anesthesia; and women obtaining pregnancy terminations 3/4 of whom were married spent almost 3 days in the hospital on average. In 1979 the overall abortion rate in Italy reached almost 14 per 1000 women aged 15-49 a level somewhat comparable to those found in other Western European countries where induced abortion has been legal for many years. Moreover almost 33% of pregnancies were terminated by legal abortion that year. Despite the speed with which the 1978 law was implemented the delivery of services is uneven and women living in many parts of the south still have difficlty in obtaining legal abortions. Health services in general are unevenly distributed throughout Italy with the south having the poorest resources. In addition more than 7 in 10 obstetricians and gynecologiests in the south have officially declined to provide abortion services under a conscience clause in the law. Despite uneven services and difficulties facing minors and women in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy the 1978 law signaled an impressive step toward preventions of illegal abortion in the country which is the home of the Roman Catholic Church. (authors)