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Petter Lundborg. Photo.

Petter Lundborg

Professor

Petter Lundborg. Photo.

Does Health-Care Consolidation Harm Patients? Evidence from Maternity Ward Closures

Author

  • Daniel Avdic
  • Petter Lundborg
  • Johan VikstrÖm

Summary, in English

We study how closures of maternity wards affect maternal and neonatal health. Using data on all hospital births in Sweden between 1990 and 2004, we compare changes in birth-related outcomes across hospital catchment areas that were differently exposed to ward closures. Our findings show that the closures increased maternal obstetric trauma but also decreased fetal stress and infant trauma among newborns. Adverse maternal outcomes are mainly driven by ward overcrowding, whereas increases in travel distance have no distinguishable effects. Positive effects on infant health reflect a shift of births from smaller to larger wards of higher quality.

Department/s

  • Department of Economics

Publishing year

2024

Language

English

Pages

160-189

Publication/Series

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy

Volume

16

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

American Economic Association

Topic

  • Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1945-7731