Neonatal Health Within War Contexts: Insights From the Colombian Experience, 1998–2007

Abstract

The Colombian Armed Conflict intensified 1998–2002, with its urban dynamics continuing to influence neonatal health through 2007. Using data from the National Centre of Historic Memory and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, this study examines the effects of regional violence on neonatal health outcomes. Employing a difference-in-differences approach and logistic regression analysis, we assessed the likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes—such as preterm births, low birth weights, and stillbirths-miscarriages—in regions with varying levels of violence. Results reveal a significant correlation between Colombian Armed Conflict dynamics and increased adverse outcomes, particularly in urban settlements 2003–2007. Women in heavily affected regions like Antioquia were more likely to transmit health disadvantages to their newborns, especially after 2002, the peak year of violence. This study highlights the disproportionate effects of this violence on neonatal health, emphasizing the role of the “Policy of Democratic Security” in reshaping violence patterns and exacerbating health disparities. By focusing on the differential effects of violence across rural and urban settings, this study provides critical empirical evidence on how conflict dynamics influence neonatal well-being, offering new insight into the long-term health consequences of armed conflict.