• Fassil Baynesan, Becca Feldman, and Ronny Shtarkshall.
• The Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine of the Hebrew University & Hadassah.
• Harefuah. 2011 Feb 1; 150 (2): 175-9, 203.

UnlabelledThe sexual and reproductive behaviors of Ethiopians immigrating to Israel have changed drastically as they transition to a new culture. With the postponement of age of marriage and an increase in sexual activity prior to marriage, there is an increased risk of unplanned pregnancy among young people in this group. The increasing rates of unplanned pregnancy among immigrants in developed countries have become a formidable public health challenge.ObjectiveTo examine abortion request rates and trends among young women of Ethiopian origin aged 16-24 years during the period 1995-2005 in order to characterize the relative extent of abortions and the time trends, and also to provide development and intervention recommendations.FindingsDuring the years 1995-2005 the rate of abortion requests among young women of Ethiopian origin was 3-6 times that of other Israelis. Young women of Ethiopian origin born in Israel requested abortions at 1.3-3 times the rate of Israelis of non-Ethiopian origin. However, the adolescents of Ethiopian origin born in Israel had abortion request rates that were more comparable to other Israelis than to women born in Ethiopia who subsequently immigrated to Israel. However those who have been in Israel 5-9 years, compared to those living in the country for 1-4 years, have lower rates of requests for abortion, most notable in the 20-24 year old age group.ConclusionsIsraeli women of Ethiopian origin have a considerably higher risk of requesting an abortion than other Israeli women of the same age. Although women of Ethiopian origin born in Israel had a lower rate of requests for abortions compared to those born in Ethiopia, this rate is still higher in comparison to other Israelis. Females born in Ethiopia have even higher rates. It is evident that these youth need exposure to appropriate preventive interventions and that this group cannot be considered homogenous. We recommend that appropriate interventions should be based on the specific needs of sub-groups within them and on appropriate analytical and development research.

17 keywords...

hide…