Affiliation:
1. Asian Studies Center, James Madison College, and (by courtesy) Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
2. Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong Shillong Meghalaya India
Abstract
ABSTRACTThis paper examines the timing of one‐time fluctuations in births subsequent to the 1918 influenza pandemic in Madras (now Chennai), India. After seasonally decomposing key demographic aggregates, we identified abrupt one‐time fluctuations in excess births, deaths, and infant deaths. We found a contemporaneous spike in excess deaths and infant deaths and a 40‐week lag between the spike in deaths and a subsequent deficit in births. The results suggest that India experienced the same kind of short‐term postpandemic “baby bust” that was observed in the United States and other countries. Identifying the mechanisms underlying this widespread phenomenon remains an open question and an important topic for future research.
Funder
Michigan State University
Reference18 articles.
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