The dynamic relationship between low birthweight and induced abortion in New York City. An aggregate time-series analysis.
We use a vector autoregression to examine the dynamic relationship between the race-specific percentage of pregnancies terminated by induced abortion and the race-specific percentage of low-birthweight births in New York City. With monthly data beginning in 1972, we find that induced abortion explains low birthweight for blacks, but not for whites. There is no evidence of feedback from low birthweight to induced abortion. The findings suggest that unanticipated decreases in the percentage of pregnancies terminated by induced abortion would worsen birth outcomes among blacks in New York City.
Joyce
T
T
Baruch College, New York city 10003.
Grossman
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M
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People