Interruptions of pregnancy (IVG) continue to decline in Italy. In 2020 there were just over 66 thousand, 9.3% less than in 2019.
The decline was recorded in all geographical areas and age groups, especially in the younger ones and among foreigners.
This was noted in the Report to Parliament on the implementation of law 194/78 on ivg.
The Report collects data from the Surveillance System, from which it emerges that, in total, 66,413 IVGs were notified in 2020 with an abortion rate of 5.4 per thousand women between 15 and 49 years (down 6, 7% on 2019), one of the lowest at international level.
In 2020, the percentage of medical and non-medical personnel exercising the right to conscientious objection to the termination of pregnancy (Ivg) decreased slightly.
However, the values remain high: the objection concerns 2 out of 3 gynecologists and almost 1 out of 2 anesthetists, with peaks exceeding 80% in some regions.
This is one of the figures that emerges from the Report of the Minister for Health to Parliament on the implementation of law 194 of 1978 on voluntary termination of pregnancy (ivg).
According to the Report, in 2020, the percentage of objecting gynecologists nationwide fell to 64.6% from 67% the previous year.
There are, however, large regional differences.
In the autonomous province of Bolzano, 84.5% of gynecologists exercise the right to objection, 83.8% in Abruzzo,
82.8% in Molise, 81.6% in Sicily, 81.4% in Basilicata.
The lowest objection rates among gynecologists are found in Valle d'Aosta (25%), in the PA of Trento (35.9%) and in Emilia Romagna (45%).
The objection rate among anesthetists is lower: in 2020 it is 44.6%, a slight increase compared to 43.5% in 2019. Also in this case there are large regional differences: ranging from 20% in the Aosta Valley 75.9% of Calabria.
Among non-medical personnel, the objection stands at 36.2% (it was 37.6% in 2019) with a range that goes from 13.3% in Valle d'Aosta to 90% in Molise.
"The number of conscientious objectors for all health professional categories remains high, in particular for gynecologists (64.6%).
organization of IVG services must be such that there is a sufficient number of professional figures to guarantee women the possibility of accessing voluntary termination of pregnancy, as indicated in article 9 of law no.
194/78.
This should be guaranteed by the Regions, to protect the free exercise of sexual and reproductive rights of women and access to IVG services and minimize the impact of conscientious objection in the exercise of this right ", he wrote in the conclusions to the Report the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza.
