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To Pill or not to Pill? Access to Emergency Contraception and Contraceptive Behaviour

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  • Ana Nuevo-Chiquero
  • Francisco J. Pino

Abstract

We examine the effects of free-of-charge availability of emergency contraception on contraceptive behaviour in Chile. Using a survey of individuals 15 to 29, we exploit variation in availability at the municipality level as a consequence of legal and judicial decisions in the late 2000s. We find an increase in the use of emergency contraception in municipalities in which it was available through the public health system, but also an increase in the use of other methods of hormonal, pre-coital contraception, and a decrease of more traditional contraceptive methods. This effect is concentrated among groups with a low starting use of contraceptives, who may benefit from the contact with the health services. Unlike previous results for developed countries, our results indicate that there is scope for an effect of emergency contraception in settings with low starting levels of contraceptive use, and a significant potential for policies to increase adoption of regular contraception.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Nuevo-Chiquero & Francisco J. Pino, 2019. "To Pill or not to Pill? Access to Emergency Contraception and Contraceptive Behaviour," Working Papers wp477, University of Chile, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:udc:wpaper:wp477
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    Cited by:

    1. Clarke, Damian & Salinas, Viviana, 2020. "Access to The Emergency Contraceptive Pill Improves Women's Health: Evidence from Chile," IZA Discussion Papers 13134, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Viviana Salinas & Valentina Jorquera-Samter, 2022. "Adolescent fertility and high school completion in Chile: Exploring gender differences," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(31), pages 967-1008.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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