Pregnant women in Italy have access to good health care services. Istat survey on Health Conditions and Use of Health Services estimates that in 2013 2,7 million women had a child in the last 5 years (18.2% were foreign women). 94.3% of mothers had the first medical visit within the third month of pregnancy (the same as in 2000 and 2005), as the national guidelines recommended.<\/p>\n
Medicalization during pregnancy is on the rise: 37.6% of women had more than 6 echography exams during pregnancy, while the percentage was 23.8% in 2000 and 28.9% in 2005.<\/p>\n
Women awareness of health risks of smoking for the new born was rising: 74.1% of women stated that they quit smoking during pregnancy (63.4% in 2000). 22.3% of mothers reduced the number of smoked cigarettes, and only 3% didn\u2019t change their smoking behavior (6.8% in 2000). Among more educated women the share of those who stopped smoking during pregnancy was even higher (89.2%), while it decreased among less educated women (65.2%).<\/p>\n
Italy was the European country with the highest level of Caesarian section rate (36.3%) according to the 2013 hospital discharge records (Sdo), collected by the Health Ministry and confirmed by Istat survey. A sharp variability was registered among Italian regions with higher rates in Southern Italy.<\/p>\n
For information Laura Iannucci
\nSocio-demographic and environmental statistics directorate
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\niannucci@istat.it<\/a>
\nph. +39 06 4673.7213<\/p>\n