Religious Affiliation, Ethnicity, and Child Mortality in Chiapas, México

Abstract

We investigate whether there is a relationship between religious affiliation and child mortality among indigenous and nonindigenous groups in Chiapas, México. Our analysis relies on Brass-type estimates of child mortality by ethnicity and religious affiliation and multivariate analyses that adjust for various socioeconomic and demographic factors. The data are from the 2000 Mexican Census 10 percent sample. Among indigenous people, Presbyterians have lower rates of child mortality than Catholics. However, no significant differentials are found in child mortality by religious affiliation among nonindigenous people. The indigenous health ministry of the Presbyterian Church and the social and cultural transformations that tend to accompany religious conversion may have an impact on child survival among disadvantaged populations such as the indigenous people in Chiapas.

Religious Affiliation and Under-Five Mortality in Mozambique

“…It is important to note, however, that while the survival chances of children of Catholics/mainline Protestant and Apostolics were significantly higher than those of children of non-affiliated women, the differences among religious denominations were not statistically significant after controlling for other factors (results not shown). The findings on child survival advantage related to mother’s affiliation to specific religious groups are similar to those of other studies (e.g., Antai et al , 2009; Valle et al , 2009). …”

Infant mortality and mothers' religious involvement in Brazil

“…Newborns of Protestant mothers were found to have a significantly (p. <0.1) lower risk of mortality than infants born to Catholics. This finding may support the results found by Wood, Williams, and Chijiwa (2007) and indicates that some restrictions on members' lifestyles demanded by Protestant churches may be positively affecting mothers' and children' health. In addition, infants of mothers who attended religious services weekly were significantly (p. <0.05) less likely to die before turning one year than their counterparts whose mothers attended less than monthly or did not attend, both in 1996 and 2006.…”

“…It is well known that Protestants, and more recently, Pentecostal Protestants, in Brazil, encourage self-help networks that are national in scope. They usually offer not only psychological and spiritual support, but also financial assistance, opening their homes to people in need, trying to help others find jobs, or even offering childcare support (WOOD; WILLIAMS; CHIJIWA, 2007;CHESNUT, 1997;MARIZ, 1994). By providing access to these resources, which can be mobilized in times of economic need, sickness, and emergency, religion-based communities can enhance infant and child welfare, especially among the poor.…”

“…Some researchers have suggested, for instance, that Protestantism, and more recently Pentecostal Protestantism, may positively change health-related behaviors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, drug use, violence, and sexual risks (CHESNUT, 2003(CHESNUT, , 1997BURDICK, 1993;MARIZ, 1994). These changes often occur among men and can affect gender relations and equity, encouraging, for instance, the responsible fathering of children (WOOD;WILLIAMS;CHIJIWA, 2007). Moreover, Protestants in Brazil very often claim to experience economic improvement after their conversion (MARIZ, 1994).…”

“…Among other changes, the recent transformation in Brazil's religious landscape has been associated with improvements in child welfare there and in other Latin American countries (VALLE, FERNANDEZ;POTTER, 2009;WOOD;WILLIAMS;CHIJIWA, 2007), including more positive health outcomes and lower risk of death. Trying to better understand this connection, the purpose of this article is to examine the association between mothers' religious involvement (as measured by mothers' religious affiliation and religious service attendance) and infant mortality in Brazil.…”