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| Study links coronavirus lockdowns to birth rate drop in Europe | Study links coronavirus lockdowns to birth rate drop in Europe |
| (21 days later) | |
| Europe saw a 14% drop in its birth rate in January 2021 compared to previous years - a decline probably triggered by the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, research suggests. | Europe saw a 14% drop in its birth rate in January 2021 compared to previous years - a decline probably triggered by the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, research suggests. |
| January 2021 was nine to 10 months after the imposition of Covid-related lockdowns. | January 2021 was nine to 10 months after the imposition of Covid-related lockdowns. |
| Longer lockdowns led to fewer pregnancies, the research suggests. | Longer lockdowns led to fewer pregnancies, the research suggests. |
| The decline was more common in countries where health systems struggled. | The decline was more common in countries where health systems struggled. |
| Lithuania and Romania saw the biggest drops - at 28% and 23% respectively - while Sweden, which had no lockdown, saw normal birth rates, according to findings published in the journal Human Reproduction., external | Lithuania and Romania saw the biggest drops - at 28% and 23% respectively - while Sweden, which had no lockdown, saw normal birth rates, according to findings published in the journal Human Reproduction., external |
| Researchers say the findings may lead to "long-term consequences on demographics particularly in western Europe where there are aging populations". | Researchers say the findings may lead to "long-term consequences on demographics particularly in western Europe where there are aging populations". |
| "The longer the lockdowns the fewer pregnancies occurred in this period, even in countries not severely affected by the pandemic," said Dr Leo Pomar, a midwife sonographer at Lausanne University Hospital, who wrote the study. | "The longer the lockdowns the fewer pregnancies occurred in this period, even in countries not severely affected by the pandemic," said Dr Leo Pomar, a midwife sonographer at Lausanne University Hospital, who wrote the study. |
| "We think that couples' fears of a health and social crisis at the time of the first wave of Covid-19 contributed to the decrease in live births nine months later." | "We think that couples' fears of a health and social crisis at the time of the first wave of Covid-19 contributed to the decrease in live births nine months later." |
| Social distancing measures, fears related to the virus, and the social and economic crisis caused as a result may be "indirect factors that played a role in the decision of couples to postpone pregnancies", the report states. | Social distancing measures, fears related to the virus, and the social and economic crisis caused as a result may be "indirect factors that played a role in the decision of couples to postpone pregnancies", the report states. |
| England and Wales saw a 13% drop in January 2021, compared with January 2018 and 2019 - while the number of babies born in Scotland decreased by 14%. | England and Wales saw a 13% drop in January 2021, compared with January 2018 and 2019 - while the number of babies born in Scotland decreased by 14%. |
| France and Spain saw a 14% and 23% drop respectively. | France and Spain saw a 14% and 23% drop respectively. |
| In March 2021, births returned to a similar rate to the pre-pandemic level, corresponding to a rebound nine to 10 months after the end of lockdowns, the study says. | In March 2021, births returned to a similar rate to the pre-pandemic level, corresponding to a rebound nine to 10 months after the end of lockdowns, the study says. |
| But researchers say that this rebound does not appear to have compensated for the drop in birth rates two months before. | But researchers say that this rebound does not appear to have compensated for the drop in birth rates two months before. |
| "The fact that the rebound in births does not seem to compensate for the decrease in January 2021 could have long-term consequences on demographics, particularly in western Europe where there are aging populations," Dr Pomar said. | "The fact that the rebound in births does not seem to compensate for the decrease in January 2021 could have long-term consequences on demographics, particularly in western Europe where there are aging populations," Dr Pomar said. |