Violence and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from Homicides in Brazil

Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner and Marco Manacorda ()

No 9211, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper uses microdata from Brazilian natality and mortality vital statistics between 2000 and 2010 to estimate the impact of in-utero exposure to local violence – measured by homicide rates - on birth outcomes. The estimates show that exposure to violence during the first trimester of pregnancy leads to a small but precisely estimated increase in the risk of low birthweight and prematurity. Effects are found in both rural areas, where homicides are rare, and in urban areas, where violence is endemic and are particularly pronounced among children of poorly educated mothers, implying that violence compounds the disadvantage that these children already suffer as a result of their households' lower socioeconomic status.

Keywords: stress; birth outcomes; birthweight; homicides; Brazil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I15 I39 J13 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 56 pages
Date: 2015-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lam, nep-law and nep-ltv
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Published - published in: Journal of Development Economics, 2016, 119, 16-33.

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https://docs.iza.org/dp9211.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Violence and birth outcomes: Evidence from homicides in Brazil (2016)
Working Paper: Violence and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from Homicides in Brazil (2016)
Working Paper: Violence and Birth Outcomes: Evidence From Homicides in Brazil (2015)
Working Paper: Violence and birth outcomes: evidence from homicides in Brazil (2015)
Working Paper: Violence and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from Homicides in Brazil (2015)
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