Showing papers by "Liliana Minelli published in 2012"

Effects of individual and social factors on preterm birth and low birth weight: empirical evidence from regional data in Italy.

Abstract: We examine the effects of mother’s characteristics and socioeconomic condition on weight at birth and preterm delivery in an Italian region (Umbria). The study concerns all live-born singleton infants in 2007 with at least a gestational age of 22 weeks. Information derived from the Standard Certificate of Live Birth was linked to information from census statistics, so as to obtain a deprivation index. On the basis of the fitting of two separate logistic regression models, we conclude that all individual socioeconomic factors are strongly associated with the outcomes at birth, apart from the deprivation index. Older and less educated mothers, and those with lower occupational level, have a higher probability to run into preterm delivery with respect to the other mothers. The relative risk ratios for low birth weight are significantly higher for older mothers, non-European, and not married. Lower weight rates are found in infants from complicated pregnancy and non-spontaneous conception. Effects of mother’s characteristics on weight at birth and weeks of gestation are confirmed. The deprivation index does not affect these outcomes, showing the proper implementation of the Health System.

The role of anti-smoking legislation on cigarette and alcohol consumption habits in Italy

Abstract: The short-term effects of public smoking bans on individual smoking and drinking habits were investigated in this paper. In 2005, a smoking ban was introduced in Italy, and we exploited this exogenous variation to measure the effect on both smoking participation and intensity and the indirect effect on alcohol consumption. Using data from the Everyday Life Aspects survey, for the period 2001-2007, we show that the introduction of smoke-free legislation in Italy significantly affected smoking behavior. We also document significant indirect effects on alcohol consumption for the main alcoholic beverage categories. A robustness analysis is also performed, to test the extent to which unobservable variables may bias our estimated parameters. Our results are then used to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of the anti-smoking legislation in Italy.

The role of anti-smoking legislation on cigarette and alcohol consumption habits in Italy

Abstract: The short-term effects of public smoking bans on individual smoking and drinking habits were investigated in this paper. In 2005, a smoking ban was introduced in Italy, and we exploited this exogenous variation to measure the effect on both smoking participation and intensity and the indirect effect on alcohol consumption. Using data from the Everyday Life Aspects survey, for the period 2001-2007, we show that the introduction of smoke-free legislation in Italy significantly affected smoking behavior. We also document significant indirect effects on alcohol consumption for the main alcoholic beverage categories. A robustness analysis is also performed, to test the extent to which unobservable variables may bias our estimated parameters. Our results are then used to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of the anti-smoking legislation in Italy.