COVID-19 and women’s health: Examining changes in mental health and fertility

Adan Silverio-Murillo, Lauren Hoehn-Velasco, Jose Roberto Balmori de la Miyar and Abel Rodríguez
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Jose Roberto Balmori-de-la-Miyar

Economics Letters, 2021, vol. 199, issue C

Abstract: Researchers have speculated that the economic and social consequences of COVID19 will harm women’s health. This paper tests this claim in the immediate aftermath of Mexico City’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order using call-center data. We use an event-study design to track calls for fertility decisions and mental health. Our findings indicate that mental health worsened during the pandemic. Anxiety calls increased substantially, with the effect being most pronounced for those over 45. Calls related to abortion fell in number, while pregnancy calls remained stable. The abortion effect is most pronounced for women between 15 and 30 and those with a high school degree.

Keywords: Women; Fertility; Mental health; Health; COVID-19; Mexico (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J12 J16 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:199:y:2021:i:c:s0165176521000069

DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109729

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