{"title":"Fertility dynamics through historical pandemics and COVID-19 in Switzerland, 1871-2022.","authors":"Katarina L Matthes, Mathilde Le Vu, Kaspar Staub","doi":"10.1080/00324728.2025.2462291","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We follow general fertility rates (GFRs) in Switzerland up to 2022, with a focus on their dynamics during and after pandemics. Historical influenza pandemics (1889-90, 1918-20, 1957) have consistently led to temporary declines in births between six and nine months after the pandemic peak. High rates of miscarriage may explain these findings. After the 1889-90 and 1918-20 pandemics, short-term baby booms occurred. For the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the dynamics appear more complex. The GFR had already been declining since 2018, before the pandemic hit Switzerland. During and shortly after the first two waves in 2020, there was an increase in conceptions, leading to a higher GFR in 2021: shutdown measures may have brought planned pregnancies forwards. Subsequently, the GFR declined from February 2022; one possible explanation is that pregnancies were intentionally postponed until after vaccination. Following these population-level observations, more in-depth studies are needed to understand better why fertility is affected by pandemics.</p>","PeriodicalId":47814,"journal":{"name":"Population Studies-A Journal of Demography","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Population Studies-A Journal of Demography","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00324728.2025.2462291","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"DEMOGRAPHY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
We follow general fertility rates (GFRs) in Switzerland up to 2022, with a focus on their dynamics during and after pandemics. Historical influenza pandemics (1889-90, 1918-20, 1957) have consistently led to temporary declines in births between six and nine months after the pandemic peak. High rates of miscarriage may explain these findings. After the 1889-90 and 1918-20 pandemics, short-term baby booms occurred. For the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the dynamics appear more complex. The GFR had already been declining since 2018, before the pandemic hit Switzerland. During and shortly after the first two waves in 2020, there was an increase in conceptions, leading to a higher GFR in 2021: shutdown measures may have brought planned pregnancies forwards. Subsequently, the GFR declined from February 2022; one possible explanation is that pregnancies were intentionally postponed until after vaccination. Following these population-level observations, more in-depth studies are needed to understand better why fertility is affected by pandemics.
期刊介绍：
For over half a century, Population Studies has reported significant advances in methods of demographic analysis, conceptual and mathematical theories of demographic dynamics and behaviour, and the use of these theories and methods to extend scientific knowledge and to inform policy and practice. The Journal"s coverage of this field is comprehensive: applications in developed and developing countries; historical and contemporary studies; quantitative and qualitative studies; analytical essays and reviews. The subjects of papers range from classical concerns, such as the determinants and consequences of population change, to such topics as family demography and evolutionary and genetic influences on demographic behaviour.
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