Terrorist attacks, Islamophobia and newborns’ health

Islamophobia has increased in the last years, in part, due to terrorist attacks perpetrated by jihadist groups. This phenomenon might be a source of stress, being particularly problematic for pregnant (Muslim) women. We examine how stress generated by the 2017 Catalonia (Spain) attacks affected the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health economics 2021-09, Vol.79, p.102510-102510, Article 102510
Main Authors: Armijos Bravo, Grace, Vall Castelló, Judit
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Birth
Childbirth & labor
Complications
Emotional distress
Health administration
Health at birth outcomes
Health economics
Infants
Islamophobia
Jihadist terrorist attacks
Low birth weight
Maternal and infant welfare
Maternal stress
Mothers
Muslims
Neonates
Newborn babies
Perpetrators
Psychological distress
Stress
Terrorism
Women
Xenophobia
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Summary:Islamophobia has increased in the last years, in part, due to terrorist attacks perpetrated by jihadist groups. This phenomenon might be a source of stress, being particularly problematic for pregnant (Muslim) women. We examine how stress generated by the 2017 Catalonia (Spain) attacks affected the health of newborns whose mothers are from a Muslim country (as the perpetrators). We use a difference-in-differences-in-differences model comparing newborns whose mothers come from a Muslim country and are residing in a municipality directly affected by the attacks, to other newborns, before-after the attacks. Results show that the share of low-birth-weight babies and deliveries with complications raise significantly by 23.77%, and 13.02%. We document a significant increase in Islamophobia and in emotional distress in our group of interest. We conclude that Islamophobia-related stress is possibly one of the channels affecting health at birth.
ISSN:0167-6296
1879-1646
DOI:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2021.102510