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The impact of the legalisation of abortion on birth outcomes in Uruguay

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  • José‐Ignacio Antón
  • Zuleika Ferre
  • Patricia Triunfo

Abstract

This study investigates the short‐term impact on the quantity and quality of births of an abortion reform in Uruguay that legalised termination of pregnancy until the 12th week of pregnancy in the short run. We employ a differences‐in‐differences approach, comprehensive administrative records of births, and a novel identification strategy based on the planned or unplanned nature of pregnancies that came to term. Our results suggest that this policy change has led to an 8% decline in the number of births from unplanned pregnancies, driven by the group of mothers aged between 20 and 34 years old who have secondary education. This decline has triggered an increase in the average quality of births in terms of more intensive prenatal control care and a lower probability of births among single mothers. Furthermore, we document a positive selection process of births because of the reform, as adequate prenatal control care and Apgar scores rose among the affected demographic group.

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  • José‐Ignacio Antón & Zuleika Ferre & Patricia Triunfo, 2018. "The impact of the legalisation of abortion on birth outcomes in Uruguay," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(7), pages 1103-1119, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:27:y:2018:i:7:p:1103-1119
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.3659
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    Cited by:

    1. Zuleika Ferre & Patricia Triunfo & José‐Ignacio Antón, 2023. "Subdermal contraceptive implants and repeat teenage motherhood: Evidence from a major maternity hospital‐based program in Uruguay," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(12), pages 2679-2693, December.
    2. Cecilia Velázquez & Wanda Cabella, 2022. "Abortion Legalization in Uruguay: Effects on Adolescent Fertility," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0298, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    3. Joanna N. Lahey & Marianne H. Wanamaker, 2022. "Effects of Restrictive Abortion Legislation on Cohort Mortality Evidence from 19th Century Law Variation," NBER Working Papers 30201, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Gonzalez, Fidel & Quast, Troy, 2022. "The relationship between abortion rates and economic fluctuations," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    5. Gábor Hajdu & Tamás Hajdu, 2021. "The long-term impact of restricted access to abortion on children’s socioeconomic outcomes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, March.
    6. Zuleika Ferre & Patricia Triunfo & Jos'e-Ignacio Ant'on, 2023. "The short- and long-term determinants of fertility in Uruguay," Papers 2304.00539, arXiv.org.
    7. Clarke, Damian, 2023. "The Economics of Abortion Policy," IZA Discussion Papers 16395, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Rodrigo Ceni & Cecilia Parada & Ivone Perazzo & Eliana Sena, 2020. "Birth Collapse and Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive Policies," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 20-14, Instituto de Economía - IECON.

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