Luciana Conceição de Lima

Infant mortality and mothers' religious involvement in Brazil

O crescimento do Protestantismo no Brasil tem sido associado a mudancas em variaveis de mortalidade e saude. Estudos recentes sugerem que a afiliacao com igrejas Protestantes pode positivamente influenciar o bem-estar de seus membros a partir: 1) do ensinamento de diretrizes morais; 2) da criacao de sancoes formais e informais; e 3) da promocao de redes sociais e de suporte. Este trabalho utiliza dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saude (PNDS) de 1996 e 2006 e modelos de risco proporcional de Cox para examinar a associacao entre mortalidade infantil e envolvimento religioso da mae. Resultados bivariados mostram que as diferencas nas razoes de risco da mortalidade infantil por envolvimento religioso materno sao consideraveis e estatisticamente significativas. Ao controlar por variaveis demograficas e socioeconomicas na amostra de 1996, esta associacao inicial desaparece, o que corrobora a hipotese de seletividade. Resultados usando a PNDS de 2006 mostram, no entanto, que os diferenciais na mortalidade infantil por participacao em cultos religiosos ou missas ainda sao observados no modelo multivariado. Tal constatacao sugere que a associacao entre envolvimento religioso materno e mortalidade infantil no Brasil e mais forte em 2006 do que era em 1996. Este trabalho deve encorajar novos estudos sobre a relacao entre religiao e variaveis de saude no Brasil. Este tema merece maior consideracao dos demografos no Brasil nao somente porque este pais tem passado por profundas mudancas religiosas, mas tambem porque a religiao pode afetar o comportamento e o estilo de vida de seus fieis, o que, por sua vez, pode influenciar o bem-estar e a saude destes individuos.The growth of Protestantism in Brazil has been associated with changes in mortality and health-related outcomes. Recent research has suggested that affiliation with Protestant churches may positively influence their members’ well being by: 1) providing moral directives, 2) creating formal or informal sanctions, and 3) promoting social networks and support. This article uses data from the 1996 and 2006 Brazilian Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) and Cox’s proportional hazard models to examine the relationship between infant mortality and mothers’ religious involvement. Unadjusted results show that differences in the hazard ratios of infant mortality by mothers’ religious involvement are considerable and statistically significant. When one controls demographic and socioeconomic variables in the 1996 DHS, the baseline relationship disappears, supporting the hypothesis of selectivity. Results using the 2006 DHS are somewhat different and suggest that the association between religious involvement and infant mortality was stronger in Brazil in 2006 than in 1996. This research should encourage future studies on religious involvement and health-related outcomes in Brazil. This topic deserves further consideration from Brazilian demographers not simply because this country has undergone enormous changes in its religious landscape over recent decades, but also because religion can affect believers’ lifestyles and behaviors, and this can indirectly influence their health and well-being.

Idade materna e mortalidade infantil: efeitos nulos, biológicos ou socioeconômicos?

There are controversies as to whether extreme ages of women upon giving birth bring with them a greater number of factors associated with infant mortality rates and whether there is evidence of higher mortality rates among children of new mothers below age 20 or over age 34. Regarding teenage mothers, a heated debate is in course as to whether adverse obstetric results that occur are due to biological immaturity, to unfavorable socioeconomic situations, or if there is null effect of a woman’s young age on the chances of infant mortality. One question involving older mothers at childbirth is whether, despite the inroads made in medicine, this age can be associated with higher vulnerability to infant mortality. Another factor is whether more favorable socioeconomic conditions reduce the effect of the most common infirmities seen in mothers who gave birth at age 35 or over. There is also the question as to whether late affects the occurrence of infant mortality. On the basis of contrasting evidence regarding the levels of child mortality as correlated with mothers’ age, this article presents and discusses the main arguments found in the literature. In the case of both early and late childbirth, there are indications that back up not only the hypotheses of the biological and socioeconomic plausibility of infant mortality, but also the position that there is no effect of mothers’ ages on this factor. Two factors hamper more precise identification regarding this vulnerability. First there is the variety of methods used to study the relationship between mother’s age when giving birth, on the one hand, and infant mortality, on the other. Secondly, there is lack of uniformity among the studies in defining age groups.

Mortalidade infantil e envolvimento religioso materno no Brasil

O crescimento do Protestantismo no Brasil tem sido associado a mudancas em variaveis de mortalidade e saude. Estudos recentes sugerem que a afiliacao com igrejas Protestantes pode positivamente influenciar o bem-estar de seus membros a partir: 1) do ensinamento de diretrizes morais; 2) da criacao de sancoes formais e informais; e 3) da promocao de redes sociais e de suporte. Este trabalho utiliza dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saude (PNDS) de 1996 e 2006 e modelos de risco proporcional de Cox para examinar a associacao entre mortalidade infantil e envolvimento religioso da mae. Resultados bivariados mostram que as diferencas nas razoes de risco da mortalidade infantil por envolvimento religioso materno sao consideraveis e estatisticamente significativas. Ao controlar por variaveis demograficas e socioeconomicas na amostra de 1996, esta associacao inicial desaparece, o que corrobora a hipotese de seletividade. Resultados usando a PNDS de 2006 mostram, no entanto, que os diferenciais na mortalidade infantil por participacao em cultos religiosos ou missas ainda sao observados no modelo multivariado. Tal constatacao sugere que a associacao entre envolvimento religioso materno e mortalidade infantil no Brasil e mais forte em 2006 do que era em 1996. Este trabalho deve encorajar novos estudos sobre a relacao entre religiao e variaveis de saude no Brasil. Este tema merece maior consideracao dos demografos no Brasil nao somente porque este pais tem passado por profundas mudancas religiosas, mas tambem porque a religiao pode afetar o comportamento e o estilo de vida de seus fieis, o que, por sua vez, pode influenciar o bem-estar e a saude destes individuos.The growth of Protestantism in Brazil has been associated with changes in mortality and health-related outcomes. Recent research has suggested that affiliation with Protestant churches may positively influence their members’ well being by: 1) providing moral directives, 2) creating formal or informal sanctions, and 3) promoting social networks and support. This article uses data from the 1996 and 2006 Brazilian Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) and Cox’s proportional hazard models to examine the relationship between infant mortality and mothers’ religious involvement. Unadjusted results show that differences in the hazard ratios of infant mortality by mothers’ religious involvement are considerable and statistically significant. When one controls demographic and socioeconomic variables in the 1996 DHS, the baseline relationship disappears, supporting the hypothesis of selectivity. Results using the 2006 DHS are somewhat different and suggest that the association between religious involvement and infant mortality was stronger in Brazil in 2006 than in 1996. This research should encourage future studies on religious involvement and health-related outcomes in Brazil. This topic deserves further consideration from Brazilian demographers not simply because this country has undergone enormous changes in its religious landscape over recent decades, but also because religion can affect believers’ lifestyles and behaviors, and this can indirectly influence their health and well-being.

Factores asociados a los óbitos neonatales e postneonatales en Mozambique

This article describes and analyzes factors related to neonatal and post-neonatal deaths in Mozambique between 1998 and 2003, based on information from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Distributions in the frequency of the selected characteristics for the neonatal and post-neonatal segments were studied. Multiple logistic regression with binary responses, and sequential entrance of the variables were used in order to verify changes in the levels and significance of the coefficients. The most important findings are related to the unequivocal associated factors in the odds of neonatal and post-neonatal deaths, such as being the first child, small size at birth, and residence in the northern region of the country. Mothers` being between the ages of 30 and 34 was seen as a protective element against infant mortality in both segments. In contrast, mothers being in the age group between 10 and 19 was shown to be a factor that increased odds of post-neonatal death. Size at birth was also seen as a factor of protection for the post-neonatal segment, as was residence in the southern region of Mozambique. Finally, the death rate was lower among post-neonatal newborns who were given birth at home.

Fatores associados aos óbitos neonatais e pós-neonatais em Moçambique

This article describes and analyzes factors related to neonatal and post-neonatal deaths in Mozambique between 1998 and 2003, based on information from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Distributions in the frequency of the selected characteristics for the neonatal and post-neonatal segments were studied. Multiple logistic regression with binary responses, and sequential entrance of the variables were used in order to verify changes in the levels and significance of the coefficients. The most important findings are related to the unequivocal associated factors in the odds of neonatal and post-neonatal deaths, such as being the first child, small size at birth, and residence in the northern region of the country. Mothers` being between the ages of 30 and 34 was seen as a protective element against infant mortality in both segments. In contrast, mothers being in the age group between 10 and 19 was shown to be a factor that increased odds of post-neonatal death. Size at birth was also seen as a factor of protection for the post-neonatal segment, as was residence in the southern region of Mozambique. Finally, the death rate was lower among post-neonatal newborns who were given birth at home.

Factors related to neonatal and post-neonatal mortality in Mozambique

This article describes and analyzes factors related to neonatal and post-neonatal deaths in Mozambique between 1998 and 2003, based on information from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Distributions in the frequency of the selected characteristics for the neonatal and post-neonatal segments were studied. Multiple logistic regression with binary responses, and sequential entrance of the variables were used in order to verify changes in the levels and significance of the coefficients. The most important findings are related to the unequivocal associated factors in the odds of neonatal and post-neonatal deaths, such as being the first child, small size at birth, and residence in the northern region of the country. Mothers` being between the ages of 30 and 34 was seen as a protective element against infant mortality in both segments. In contrast, mothers being in the age group between 10 and 19 was shown to be a factor that increased odds of post-neonatal death. Size at birth was also seen as a factor of protection for the post-neonatal segment, as was residence in the southern region of Mozambique. Finally, the death rate was lower among post-neonatal newborns who were given birth at home.

Edad materna y mortalidad infantil: ¿efectos nulos, biológicos o socioeconómicos?

There are controversies as to whether extreme ages of women upon giving birth bring with them a greater number of factors associated with infant mortality rates and whether there is evidence of higher mortality rates among children of new mothers below age 20 or over age 34. Regarding teenage mothers, a heated debate is in course as to whether adverse obstetric results that occur are due to biological immaturity, to unfavorable socioeconomic situations, or if there is null effect of a woman’s young age on the chances of infant mortality. One question involving older mothers at childbirth is whether, despite the inroads made in medicine, this age can be associated with higher vulnerability to infant mortality. Another factor is whether more favorable socioeconomic conditions reduce the effect of the most common infirmities seen in mothers who gave birth at age 35 or over. There is also the question as to whether late affects the occurrence of infant mortality. On the basis of contrasting evidence regarding the levels of child mortality as correlated with mothers’ age, this article presents and discusses the main arguments found in the literature. In the case of both early and late childbirth, there are indications that back up not only the hypotheses of the biological and socioeconomic plausibility of infant mortality, but also the position that there is no effect of mothers’ ages on this factor. Two factors hamper more precise identification regarding this vulnerability. First there is the variety of methods used to study the relationship between mother’s age when giving birth, on the one hand, and infant mortality, on the other. Secondly, there is lack of uniformity among the studies in defining age groups.

Mothers' ages and infant mortality rates: null, biological or socioeconomic effects?

There are controversies as to whether extreme ages of women upon giving birth bring with them a greater number of factors associated with infant mortality rates and whether there is evidence of higher mortality rates among children of new mothers below age 20 or over age 34. Regarding teenage mothers, a heated debate is in course as to whether adverse obstetric results that occur are due to biological immaturity, to unfavorable socioeconomic situations, or if there is null effect of a woman’s young age on the chances of infant mortality. One question involving older mothers at childbirth is whether, despite the inroads made in medicine, this age can be associated with higher vulnerability to infant mortality. Another factor is whether more favorable socioeconomic conditions reduce the effect of the most common infirmities seen in mothers who gave birth at age 35 or over. There is also the question as to whether late affects the occurrence of infant mortality. On the basis of contrasting evidence regarding the levels of child mortality as correlated with mothers’ age, this article presents and discusses the main arguments found in the literature. In the case of both early and late childbirth, there are indications that back up not only the hypotheses of the biological and socioeconomic plausibility of infant mortality, but also the position that there is no effect of mothers’ ages on this factor. Two factors hamper more precise identification regarding this vulnerability. First there is the variety of methods used to study the relationship between mother’s age when giving birth, on the one hand, and infant mortality, on the other. Secondly, there is lack of uniformity among the studies in defining age groups.

Mortalidad infantil e implicación religiosa materna en Brasil

O crescimento do Protestantismo no Brasil tem sido associado a mudancas em variaveis de mortalidade e saude. Estudos recentes sugerem que a afiliacao com igrejas Protestantes pode positivamente influenciar o bem-estar de seus membros a partir: 1) do ensinamento de diretrizes morais; 2) da criacao de sancoes formais e informais; e 3) da promocao de redes sociais e de suporte. Este trabalho utiliza dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saude (PNDS) de 1996 e 2006 e modelos de risco proporcional de Cox para examinar a associacao entre mortalidade infantil e envolvimento religioso da mae. Resultados bivariados mostram que as diferencas nas razoes de risco da mortalidade infantil por envolvimento religioso materno sao consideraveis e estatisticamente significativas. Ao controlar por variaveis demograficas e socioeconomicas na amostra de 1996, esta associacao inicial desaparece, o que corrobora a hipotese de seletividade. Resultados usando a PNDS de 2006 mostram, no entanto, que os diferenciais na mortalidade infantil por participacao em cultos religiosos ou missas ainda sao observados no modelo multivariado. Tal constatacao sugere que a associacao entre envolvimento religioso materno e mortalidade infantil no Brasil e mais forte em 2006 do que era em 1996. Este trabalho deve encorajar novos estudos sobre a relacao entre religiao e variaveis de saude no Brasil. Este tema merece maior consideracao dos demografos no Brasil nao somente porque este pais tem passado por profundas mudancas religiosas, mas tambem porque a religiao pode afetar o comportamento e o estilo de vida de seus fieis, o que, por sua vez, pode influenciar o bem-estar e a saude destes individuos.The growth of Protestantism in Brazil has been associated with changes in mortality and health-related outcomes. Recent research has suggested that affiliation with Protestant churches may positively influence their members’ well being by: 1) providing moral directives, 2) creating formal or informal sanctions, and 3) promoting social networks and support. This article uses data from the 1996 and 2006 Brazilian Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) and Cox’s proportional hazard models to examine the relationship between infant mortality and mothers’ religious involvement. Unadjusted results show that differences in the hazard ratios of infant mortality by mothers’ religious involvement are considerable and statistically significant. When one controls demographic and socioeconomic variables in the 1996 DHS, the baseline relationship disappears, supporting the hypothesis of selectivity. Results using the 2006 DHS are somewhat different and suggest that the association between religious involvement and infant mortality was stronger in Brazil in 2006 than in 1996. This research should encourage future studies on religious involvement and health-related outcomes in Brazil. This topic deserves further consideration from Brazilian demographers not simply because this country has undergone enormous changes in its religious landscape over recent decades, but also because religion can affect believers’ lifestyles and behaviors, and this can indirectly influence their health and well-being.