RESUMO

In this paper, we investigate whether fertility and newborn health changed during the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico. We use national administrative data and an event-study design to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on fertility and newborn health characteristics. Our findings suggest that Mexico's fertility declined temporarily as measured by conceptions that likely occurred during the stay-at-home order. Initially, the general fertility rate fell by 11-12 per cent but quickly rebounded and returned close to its original levels by the end of 2021. Newborn health also deteriorated during the pandemic. Instances of low birthweight and prematurity substantially increased, with both remaining elevated over the entire pandemic period.

Assuntos

COVID-19 , Crescimento Demográfico , Recém-Nascido , Lactente , Humanos , México/epidemiologia , Pandemias , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Recém-Nascido Prematuro

RESUMO

In this study, we consider the initial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family formation and dissolution. We use national microdata covering all marriages and divorces in Mexico, an event-study design and a difference-in-difference specification. Our findings indicate that over March through December of 2020, marriage rates declined by 54% and divorce rates by 43%. By the end of 2020, divorce rates recover back to baseline levels, but marriage rates remain 30% below the 2017-2019 baseline level. Overall, our findings suggest that marital dissolutions quickly recovered (6 months into the pandemic), but at the end of 2020, family formation remained at persistently lower levels.

RESUMO

This study examines changes in labor supply, income, and time allocation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. Using an event-study design, we show that the COVID-19 recession had severe negative consequences for Mexican households. In the first month of the pandemic, employment declined by 17 percentage points. Men recovered their employment faster than women, where men's employment approaches original levels by 2021Q2. Women, on the other hand, experienced persistent employment losses. Within-household, men also increased their time spent on household chores while neither gender (persistently) increased their time caring for others. Instead, children reduced their time spent on schoolwork by 25%.

RESUMO

Background: This study is a longitudinal analysis of how the transition of a mother, father, or any other family member to obesity affects the likelihood of children 5-12 years of age becoming adolescents with overweight or obesity during the 7-10-year period between 2002 and the period from 2009 to 2012 in Mexico. Methods: The study used two rounds of the Mexican Family Life Survey, a multipurpose random national survey that collected information on 8441 households, including 38,233 individuals in 2002 and successfully followed up with 3202 children until the period from 2009 to 2012. We used logistic regressions to calculate how family characteristics related to the evolution of body mass indexes among children, controlling for individual, family weight-related characteristics, and the socioeconomic level of the family. Results: The transition of any family member toward obesity is more relevant in determining the transition to obesity among normal-weight children than socioeconomic level of the family and individual characteristics, such as sex, schooling, and occupation. Conclusions: The transition of any family member toward obesity is associated with the transition to obesity among normal-weight children. A family-based approach to obesity prevention has yet to be incorporated into national policies.

Assuntos

Obesidade Infantil , Adolescente , Índice de Massa Corporal , Criança , Características da Família , Feminino , Humanos , México/epidemiologia , Sobrepeso , Obesidade Infantil/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Fatores Socioeconômicos

RESUMO

The existing empirical evidence suggests a reduction in aggregate crime as a consequence of the COVID-19 lockdown. However, what happens when lockdown measures are relaxed? This paper considers how the COVID-19 pandemic affects crime rates throughout Mexico when the stay-at-home orders end. We use national crime data from Mexico's National Public Security System, which reports municipality-level rates on assault & battery, theft & property crime, fraud, drug crimes & extortion, and homicides. Our results show that the majority of crimes follow a U-shaped trend-when the lockdown ends-crimes rise back to pre-pandemic levels.

RESUMO

RATIONALE: Stress process theory considers that actual and perceived isolation, caused by mobility restrictions from attempted containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, deteriorates mental health. OBJECTIVE: We examine the relationship between the COVID-19 lockdowns and mental health-related Google searches in 11 Latin American countries. We include the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. We also explore how changes in search patterns relate to income support policies and to COVID-19 death rates. METHOD: Using Google Trends data and an event-study design, as well as a difference-in-differences analysis, we investigate the association between country specific stay-at-home orders and internet searches including the following words: insomnia, stress, anxiety, sadness, depression, and suicide. RESULTS: We find three main patterns. First, searches for insomnia peak but then decline. Second, searches for stress, anxiety, and sadness increase and remain high throughout the lockdown. Third, there is no substantial change in depression-related or suicide-related searches after the lockdown. In terms of potential mechanisms, our results suggest that searches declined for suicide and insomnia following the passage of each country's income support, while in countries with higher COVID-19-related death rates, searches for insomnia, stress, and anxiety increased by more. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that, in Latin America, Google searches for words associated with mild mental health disorders increased during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Nonetheless, these conclusions should not be construed as a general population mental health deterioration, as we cannot verify that search indicators are accurately related to the users' current feelings and behaviors, and as internet users may not be representative of the population in this region.

Assuntos

COVID-19 , Saúde Mental , Ferramenta de Busca , Argentina , Bolívia , Chile , Colômbia , Controle de Doenças Transmissíveis , Equador , Guatemala , Honduras , Humanos , América Latina/epidemiologia , México , Pandemias , Peru , SARS-CoV-2 , Uruguai

RESUMO

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.

RESUMO

This paper considers whether the COVID-19 stay-at-home order affected crimes targeting women. To answer this question, we use national municipal-level crime data from Mexico's National Public Security System. The NPSS reports sexual crimes, lapses in alimony, domestic violence, and femicides. Using the NPSS, we track monthly changes in crimes targeting women using an event-study design. Our results show that lapses in alimony, sexual crimes, and domestic violence follow a U-shaped trend. Each crime declined during the stay-at-home order, and then rose back to pre-COVID levels by October. Then, we analyze potential mechanisms for the reduction in crimes against women. We find that infection risk, victim-criminal match, and banning the sale of alcohol are related to higher declines in crime.

Assuntos

COVID-19/epidemiologia , Controle de Doenças Transmissíveis/estatística & dados numéricos , Crime/estatística & dados numéricos , Violência Doméstica/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , México/epidemiologia , SARS-CoV-2 , Delitos Sexuais/estatística & dados numéricos

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on conventional crime and organized crime in Mexico City, Mexico. METHODS: Mexico City's Attorney General's Office reported crime data, covering domestic violence, burglary, robbery, vehicle theft, assault-battery, homicides, kidnapping, and extortion. We use an event study for the intertemporal variation across the 16 districts (municipalities) in Mexico City for 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: We find a sharp decrease on crimes related to domestic violence, burglary, and vehicle theft; a decrease during some weeks on crimes related to assault-battery and extortion, and no effects on crimes related to robbery, kidnapping, and homicides. CONCLUSIONS: While our results show a decline in conventional crime during the COVID- 19 pandemic, organized crime remains steady. These findings have policy implications for catastrophic events around the world, as well as possible national security issues in Mexico.