Temporal trends in adolescent pregnancies in Lombardy, Italy: 1996–2010

ABSTRACTObjectives Data from southern European countries concerning teenage pregnancy have not been properly analysed so far. We provide the temporal trend of adolescent pregnancy rates in Lombardy, Northern Italy.Methods Using the hospital discharge register (1996–2010), teenage pregnancy-related admission rates per 1000 girls aged 13 to 19 years, residing in Lombardy, were computed. Miscarriage-, induced abortion-, and delivery ratios/100 pregnancies, and caesarean section ratio/100 deliveries, were calculated.Results The pregnancy rate increased from 9.07 in 1996–2000 to 10.20 in 2001–2005, and remained at that level (10.27) in 2006–2010. However, the rates by country of birth (native Italian and non-native Italian) showed a steady decline in 2003–2010, when data about residents in Lombardy, categorised by sex, age and country of birth, were available. The induced abortion rate rose from 5.38/1000 to 5.55/1000, then decreased slightly in 2006–2010. The abortion ratio/100 pregnancies diminished from 59....