Socio-economic differences in ART treatment success: Evidence from Italy

Marco Cozzani, Daniele Vignoli, Valentina Tocchioni, Maria Elisabetta Coccia, Emilia Giusti, Sara Landini and Francesca Piazzini
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Marco Cozzani: Università degli Studi di Firenze
Daniele Vignoli: Università degli Studi di Firenze
Valentina Tocchioni: Università degli Studi di Firenze
Maria Elisabetta Coccia: Careggi University Hospital
Emilia Giusti: Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Sara Landini: Università degli Studi di Firenze
Francesca Piazzini: Careggi University Hospital

Demographic Research, 2025, vol. 53, issue 20, 611-628

Abstract: Background: Several studies have shown stark socioeconomic disparities in births resulting from assisted reproduction technology (ART), but only a few have investigated the underlying causes. An explanation may be possible inequalities in ART treatment success. Objective: This study investigates whether there are disparities in ART treatment success. We use observational data from women undergoing ART treatment at the ART center at Careggi Hospital in Florence. We analyze three outcomes: the probability of conception following ART, the probability of a miscarriage after conception, and the probability of a live birth. We further examine these disparities across population subgroups, including first-time or last-time patients, Italian-born individuals, and different age groups. Methods: We estimate baseline and adjusted logistic models and display predicted probabilities. Results: The results show no socioeconomic disparities between more and less advantaged patients in any of the outcomes considered. These findings are consistent across all the subgroups we investigated. Contribution: We explore a possible mechanism underlying ART birth disparities and highlight that these disparities do not appear to arise from treatment success, at least when treatments are performed in a widely subsidized public context in Italy.

Keywords: assisted reproduction; social disparities; infertility; treatment success; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:53:y:2025:i:20

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2025.53.20

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