A new look at female infant mortality

Much thanks to Karen Grepin for this story.

Seema Jayachandra and Ilyana Kuziemko at the NBER have released the following working paper presenting a new theory, as well as supporting data, for why female children tend to suffer from higher mortality rates. They argue that female children are weaned sooner than male children--during nursing, women are less fertile, and by weaning female children sooner, women can more quickly return to trying to have a male child. This early weaning leaves female children more susceptible to illnesses, resulting in a higher mortality rate. The authors analyzed fertility data from India and found that female children are weaned sooner that male children, and that they are weaned for longer periods of time if they already have an older brother. Karen also notes that the authors considered the policy implications of this theory, arguing that programs concerning contraceptives should also include an educational component stressing the importance of breastfeeding to children's health.