Contraceptive Use among Migrant Women in Italy: A Multilevel Approach

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

The use of contraception in developing countries has been carefully investigated thru survey data as a crucial factor to assure the right to women’s sexual and reproductive wellbeing. As abortion and unintended pregnancies among migrants and ethnic minorities emerges as a top issues in emigration countries, the same statistical coverage is not yet been assured. Using the data from the first Survey of Sexual and Reproductive Health of Migrant Women (SHMW) conducted in Italy in 2010 this analysis tries to fill the gap, taking into account personal background and community characteristics. Migrant women are very familiar to contraceptive methods as the results of decades of family planning policies in their home country, and unmet need of contraception is at considerably lower levels than those observed in the countries of origin. Still concurrent use of traditional and modern methods persists among some nationalities as well as non-use.