Dragon year superstition, birth timing, and neonatal health outcomes

Cheng Huang; Shiying Zhang; Qingguo Zhao; Yan Lin

doi:10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101594

Dragon year superstition, birth timing, and neonatal health outcomes

Cheng Huang
, Shiying Zhang^*
, Qingguo Zhao
, Yan Lin

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Economics and Management, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen
George Washington University
Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province
Shenzhen Maternity and Children's Health Hospital

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

According to Chinese astrology, each lunar year is symbolized by a zodiac animal, including the Dragon, which represents auspiciousness, power and greatness. Based on high-quality administrative data from birth certificates in Shenzhen, China, we first show that a considerable number of births are shifted from one week before the Dragon year to one week after the Dragon year begins, mainly through vaginal and elective C-sections. Then, we estimate the causal health effects of delaying births but do not find any significant results, as measured by birth weight, Apgar scores, and neonatal mortality.

Original language	English
Article number	101594
Journal	China Economic Review
Volume	66
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101594
State	Published - Apr 2021
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

China
Dragon superstition
Neonatal health
Timing of births

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10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101594

Cite this

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title = "Dragon year superstition, birth timing, and neonatal health outcomes",

abstract = "According to Chinese astrology, each lunar year is symbolized by a zodiac animal, including the Dragon, which represents auspiciousness, power and greatness. Based on high-quality administrative data from birth certificates in Shenzhen, China, we first show that a considerable number of births are shifted from one week before the Dragon year to one week after the Dragon year begins, mainly through vaginal and elective C-sections. Then, we estimate the causal health effects of delaying births but do not find any significant results, as measured by birth weight, Apgar scores, and neonatal mortality.",

keywords = "China, Dragon superstition, Neonatal health, Timing of births",

author = "Cheng Huang and Shiying Zhang and Qingguo Zhao and Yan Lin",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2021",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101594",

language = "英语",

volume = "66",

journal = "China Economic Review",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Dragon year superstition, birth timing, and neonatal health outcomes

AU - Huang, Cheng

AU - Zhang, Shiying

AU - Zhao, Qingguo

AU - Lin, Yan

PY - 2021/4

Y1 - 2021/4

N2 - According to Chinese astrology, each lunar year is symbolized by a zodiac animal, including the Dragon, which represents auspiciousness, power and greatness. Based on high-quality administrative data from birth certificates in Shenzhen, China, we first show that a considerable number of births are shifted from one week before the Dragon year to one week after the Dragon year begins, mainly through vaginal and elective C-sections. Then, we estimate the causal health effects of delaying births but do not find any significant results, as measured by birth weight, Apgar scores, and neonatal mortality.

AB - According to Chinese astrology, each lunar year is symbolized by a zodiac animal, including the Dragon, which represents auspiciousness, power and greatness. Based on high-quality administrative data from birth certificates in Shenzhen, China, we first show that a considerable number of births are shifted from one week before the Dragon year to one week after the Dragon year begins, mainly through vaginal and elective C-sections. Then, we estimate the causal health effects of delaying births but do not find any significant results, as measured by birth weight, Apgar scores, and neonatal mortality.

KW - China

KW - Dragon superstition

KW - Neonatal health

KW - Timing of births

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85099689231

U2 - 10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101594

DO - 10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101594

M3 - 文章

AN - SCOPUS:85099689231

SN - 1043-951X

VL - 66

JO - China Economic Review

JF - China Economic Review

M1 - 101594

ER -

Dragon year superstition, birth timing, and neonatal health outcomes

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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