Shatakshee Dhongde published a new article on COVID-19 and mortality among infants: Evidence from India in the Journal of Health Economics, co-authored with Erdal Asker and Abu Shonchoy. In this article, the authors present the first survey-based evidence on infant mortality in a developing country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors compile high-quality, nationally representative data from India on maternal and infant health.
Results show a significant rise in mortality rates among infants during a six-month period in 2020 covering the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown. The difference-in-differences estimates show that mortality among infants at ages 1, 3, and 6 months increased by about 9, 13, and 16 deaths per 1000 births, corresponding to an increase of 30, 42, and 44 percent, respectively.
Since COVID-19 had minimal direct impact on infant mortality, our estimates likely capture some of the indirect effects on infant mortality through income shocks, reduced healthcare access, and behavioral changes such as avoidance of hospitals for maternal care during this period.