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Mumbai, India’s most populous city, has seen its births fall for the second year in a row.
The uncertainty associated with the global pandemic and its impact on family economic conditions are considered the most likely reasons for the decline in the total number of births in cities. Massive migration from space-hungry Mumbai is also believed to be another reason for the decline.
In 2019, Mumbai recorded 1,48,898 births. In 2020, that number has dropped to 1,20,188 he. It will drop further to 1,13,669 in 2021, a 23.65% drop from the total number of births recorded in the pre-pandemic period.
However, there is also hope that in 2022 the number of births may increase slightly. According to data available up to September, Mumbai saw 94,117 births this year.
The findings come as no surprise to many demographers pointing to similar declines around the world, including in developed countries such as the United States. “People panic and are affected emotionally and financially when a new disease emerges, so they don’t give up on giving birth and delay it until the situation improves,” says a TISS health systems study. said Dr. Soumitra Ghosh of his department.
“The same thing happened during the Covid-19 pandemic, with many people suffering economic losses, including unemployment,” he added.
Experts say we’ve seen such “baby busts” after devastating events like the 2008 financial crisis and the 1918 flu pandemic.
According to the 2011 census, nearly 40% of Mumbai’s population lives in densely populated slums. When the pandemic began, many slums, among others, became hotspots of infection, such as Wali Koliwada in G-South District (Elphinstone) and Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum in G-North District.
Some of these areas are also home to immigrant populations. The first nationwide lockdown forced hundreds of thousands of migrants, including pregnant women, to leave the city. After the pandemic curve flattened, many men are returning in his 2021, but leaving their wives at home.
“We have seen a significant drop in deliveries in the slums. We expect fertility rates to remain low in 2021 as many immigrant mothers have not returned home.” Mangala Gomare, Ph.D., Executive Health Officer, BMC.
By January 2021, when Mumbai was hit by a second wave of Covid-19, many pregnant women chose to give birth at home with the help of midwives, especially in slums, avoiding going to hospitals and exposing themselves to the virus. BMC data showed that 353 parcels were reported in 2019, down to 256 in 2020. But in 2021 that figure was her 420.
BMC data also showed that the number of abortions has fallen to about 28,000 in 2021, compared to 35,000 recorded before the pandemic.
“In 2021, the impact of the second wave was quite severe. Lockdowns were limited compared to the first wave (2020) and access to hospitals was improved, but many couples contracted Covid-19. We ignored planned pregnancies for fear of coming into contact. Therefore, the number of births and abortions has decreased,” said Arun Nayak, a gynecologist at Zion Hospital who has the highest annual delivery record. says Dr.
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