Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/193405 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12111
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We investigate universalization of access to health in Brazil. We find large reductions in maternal, foetal, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality, a reduction in fertility and, possibly on account of selection, no change in the quality of births. Using rich administrative data, we investigate changes in organization, access and outcomes, thereby illuminating the driving mechanisms. We find sharp increases in coverage of primary health facilities with GPs and outreach workers and, in line with this, increases in outpatient procedures, prenatal care visits, health-education activities and home visits by medical professionals. Consistent with an attempt to rationalize use of hospital resources, we find a decline in specialists and hospital beds per capita. Despite this, we see increases in hospital births, C-sections, and maternal hospitalization for complications, with no change in rates of infant hospitalization.
Subjects: 
universal health coverage
health systems
primary care
maternal mortality
infant mortality
birth outcomes
JEL: 
I12
I18
J10
J13
J24
O54
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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