Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
08:40
A Blood-Free Diet to Rear Anopheline Mosquitoes
Published on: January 31, 2020
Religious affiliation and under-five mortality in Mozambique
Boaventura M Cau1, Arusyak Sevoyan, Victor Agadjanian
1Department of Geography, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique.
Journal of Biosocial Science
|August 4, 2012
Summary
Mothers belonging to religious organizations, particularly Catholic, Protestant, or Apostolic churches, show a significant positive impact on child survival in Mozambique. This association holds true even after accounting for education and other socio-demographic factors.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Religion
- Global Health
- Demography
Background:
- The influence of religion on health outcomes is a complex and debated topic.
- Understanding religion's role in child survival is crucial, especially in developing regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between maternal religious affiliation and under-five mortality in Mozambique.
- To identify specific religious groups that may positively influence child survival.
Main Methods:
- Utilized retrospective survey data from a predominantly Christian area in Mozambique.
- Compared under-five mortality rates between children of affiliated and non-affiliated mothers.
- Controlled for maternal education and socio-demographic factors.
Main Results:
- Maternal affiliation with any organized religion significantly improved child survival compared to non-affiliation.
- Affiliation with Catholic, mainstream Protestant, or Apostolic churches showed a significant positive association with child survival.
- Different mechanisms, such as health sector links (Catholic/Protestant) and social support (Apostolic), may explain these benefits.
Conclusions:
- Organized religion can positively impact child survival in sub-Saharan Africa and similar settings.
- Specific religious affiliations demonstrate distinct pathways through which child health is promoted.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering religious factors in public health interventions.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Relative Risk
Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
01:25Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Epidemiological data primarily involves information on specific populations' occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health and diseases. This data is crucial for understanding disease patterns and impacts, aiding public health decision-making and disease prevention strategies. The analysis of epidemiological data employs various statistical methods to interpret health-related data effectively. Here are some commonly used methods:
01:22Applications of Life Tables
Life tables are versatile across various fields, providing a quantitative basis for analyzing mortality and survival rates. Whether used by demographers, actuaries, epidemiologists, or sociologists, life tables offer valuable insights into the dynamics of life and death, facilitating informed decisions in public health, insurance, conservation, and beyond. Their broad applicability highlights the interconnectedness of demographic data with practical outcomes in everyday life and strategic...