Motherhood versus Fatherhood: The Effect of Parent Death on Post-Neonatal and Child Mortality from 1850 - 1920.

Abstract

This study examines the impact of a parent's death on infant and child mortality up to the age of 5 in the 19 th century. Utilizing data from the Utah Population Data Basefrom 1850 -1920, infant and child survival are examined in a Cox Model with non-proportional effects. During infancy years, the results show death of either parent has a major impact on the survival chances of infants. The death of the mother has the largest impact on child survival likelihood. The impact of parent death is mitigated with child age and presence of siblings over age 10.