Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Sex Ratio at Birth among Migrants in Italy

Elena Ambrosetti, La Sapienza, University of Rome
Marina Attili, Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT)
Cinzia Castagnaro, Italian National Statistical Institute
Livia Elisa Ortensi, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna

The study considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SRB. Given the pandemic's disruption of healthcare services, reduced access to abortion could lead to a decrease in SRB among populations with traditionally skewed ratios. Additionally, the Trivers-Willard hypothesis suggests that maternal stress caused by the pandemic may influence SRB. Comparing the 2018-2023 data with earlier periods helps assess changes in SRB patterns. This study builds on previous research by analyzing sex ratio at birth (SRB) among migrant populations in Italy, focusing on Albanian, Indian, Chinese, Tunisian, Sri Lankan, and Pakistani communities, where son preference is prominent. Italian newborns serve as a control group. The study also examines induced abortion rates by parity and maternal citizenship to assess abortion patterns in migrant groups with elevated SRBs. Using data from Italy's Longitudinal Register on Reproductive Histories (1999-2023), the analysis explores SRB trends by birth order, sex of previous children, and inter-birth interval. Overall, the study aims to determine if the pandemic has contributed to lower SRBs in both Italian and migrant populations, providing insights into reproductive behaviors and healthcare access during this challenging period.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Fertility, Migrant Populations and Refugees, Gender Dynamics

See extended abstract.