The Pregnancy Outcomes Among Newly Arrived Asylum-Seekers in Italy: Implications of Public Health

BACKGROUND: Migration has a significant impact on overall health and pregnancy outcome. Despite the fact that growing volume of migration flows significantly engaging the public health system of European host countries, there is a lack of evidence concerning pregnancy outcomes of newly arrived asylum-seeking women. METHODS: Data about pregnant asylum seekers hosted in the Italian Reception Centers between the 1 st June 2016 and the 1st June 2018 were retrospectively collected and analysed in the present study. We examined the following pregnancy outcomes: miscarriage, self-induced abortion, voluntary pregnancy termination, live-birth; and studied potentially related socio-demographic factors. RESULTS: Out of the 110 pregnant women living in the reception centers, 44 (40%) had eutocic delivery, 8 (7.3%) dystocic delivery, 15 (13.6%) miscarriage, 17 (15.5%) self-induced abortion and 26 (23.6%) underwent voluntary pregnancy termination. Nigerian women were at a significantly higher risk of abortive outcomes for voluntary pregnancy termination (p < 0.001), miscarriage (p = 0.049) and self-induced abortion (p < 0.001). Being unmarried was significantly associated with voluntary pregnancy termination and self-induced abortion. Women who chose to undergo unsafe abortion did not result to have significantly lower educational levels, compared to women who preferred medical abortion. CONCLUSION: This study offers first insights into pregnancy outcomes among asylum-seeking women in Italy. The country of origin and marital status seem to significantly impact on pregnancy outcome. We identified sub-groups of migrant women at increased risk of abortive outcomes, and highlight the need to improve care in order to promote migrant women’s reproductive health.