Protestantism and Child Mortality in Brazil.

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Demography
• Public Health

Background:

• Child mortality remains a significant public health concern globally, with socioeconomic and religious factors influencing outcomes.
• Understanding the role of religious affiliation in health disparities is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the association between Protestantism and child mortality in Brazil.
• To investigate differences in child mortality rates between various Protestant denominations and non-Protestant groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from Brazilian censuses conducted in 1991, 2000, and 2010.
• Employed a negative binomial regression model to analyze child mortality among women aged 20-34 years.
• Controlled for a comprehensive set of demographic and social characteristics.

Main Results:

• Children born to Protestant mothers exhibited a 5% lower mortality rate compared to those born to non-Protestant mothers.
• This association persisted after accounting for various demographic and social factors.
• A substantially lower child mortality rate was observed among Traditional Protestants compared to Pentecostal and non-Protestant groups.

Conclusions:

• Protestantism, particularly Traditional Protestantism, is associated with reduced child mortality in Brazil.
• Findings contribute recent empirical evidence to the literature on religion and child health outcomes.
• Highlights the importance of considering religious demographics in public health research and policy.