George L Wehby1,2,3, Lucas G Gimenez4, Jorge S López-Camelo4. 1. Departments of Health Management and Policy, Economics, and Preventive and Community Dentistry, and Public Policy Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA. george-wehby@uiowa.edu. 2. National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, USA. george-wehby@uiowa.edu. 3. University of Iowa, Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, 145 N. Riverside Dr., 100 College of Public Health Bldg., Room N250, Iowa City, IA, 52242-2007, USA. george-wehby@uiowa.edu. 4. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigación Clínica (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of economic cycles in Argentina on infant and maternal health between 1994 and 2006, a period that spans the major economic crisis in 1999-2002. METHODS: We evaluate the effects of province-level unemployment rates on several infant health outcomes, including birth weight, gestational age, fetal growth rate, and hospital discharge status after birth in a sample of 15,000 infants born in 13 provinces. Maternal health and healthcare outcomes include acute and chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, and use of prenatal visits and technology. Regression models control for hospital and year fixed effects and province-specific time trends. RESULTS: Unemployment rise reduces fetal growth rate particularly among high educated parents. Also, maternal poverty-related infectious diseases increase, although reporting of acute illnesses declines (an effect more pronounced among low educated parents). There is also some evidence for reduced access to prenatal care and technology among less educated parents with higher unemployment. CONCLUSIONS: Unemployment rise in Argentina has adversely affected certain infant and maternal health outcomes, but several measures show no evidence of significant change.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of economic cycles in Argentina on infant and maternal health between 1994 and 2006, a period that spans the major economic crisis in 1999-2002. METHODS: We evaluate the effects of province-level unemployment rates on several infant health outcomes, including birth weight, gestational age, fetal growth rate, and hospital discharge status after birth in a sample of 15,000 infants born in 13 provinces. Maternal health and healthcare outcomes include acute and chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, and use of prenatal visits and technology. Regression models control for hospital and year fixed effects and province-specific time trends. RESULTS: Unemployment rise reduces fetal growth rate particularly among high educated parents. Also, maternal poverty-related infectious diseases increase, although reporting of acute illnesses declines (an effect more pronounced among low educated parents). There is also some evidence for reduced access to prenatal care and technology among less educated parents with higher unemployment. CONCLUSIONS: Unemployment rise in Argentina has adversely affected certain infant and maternal health outcomes, but several measures show no evidence of significant change.
Authors: George L Wehby; Jeffrey C Murray; Eduardo E Castilla; Jorge S Lopez-Camelo; Robert L Ohsfeldt Journal: Econ Hum Biol Date: 2008-10-30 Impact factor: 2.184
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