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Exploring the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health: a Brazilian framework using Kohler-Ortega tempo-adjusted fertility rates

Raquel Coutinho, CEDEPLAR - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Luciana Lima, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Victor Leocádio, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Tereza Bernardes, University of Pennsylvania
Adriana Miranda-Ribeiro, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)

The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on fertility rates is yet to be determined as January 2021 marks the first month in which live births were possibly impacted by reproductive decisions made amidst a new public health crisis. The objectives of this proposal are to build a framework of pandemic effects exploring the mechanisms of fertility change and provide preliminary empirical evidence applying Kohler-Ortega tempo-adjusted measures of fertility rates. While women might postpone births to avoid unnecessary health risks for themselves and their children, others, especially high-income, older women might see work from home or unemployment as a reduction in opportunity costs for having a child. Nevertheless, for some women, loss of access to sexual and reproductive health services, and possible increase of gender violence could contribute to an increase in pregnancies or maintenance of pre-Covid-19 fertility levels.

Keywords: Fertility and childbirth, Quantum and tempo effects, Theory, COVID-19

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P3.