A recent study found that the significant decrease in childhood mortality throughout the 20th century has increased women’s lifespans by about one year. Matthew Zipple, a Klarman Postdoctoral Fellow in neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University, discussed how this trend has positively impacted the population of mothers in the United States since 1900. The study, titled “Reducing Childhood Mortality Extends Mothers’ Lives,” was published on May 9th.The study, published in Scientific Reports, focused on two groups of mothers: those who had lost children and those who had not. According to Zipple, the number of mothers who had lost children was almost equal to those who had not. In today’s world, where child loss is less common, most women who have experienced such a loss fall into the non-bereaved category. By using mathematical modeling based on CDC data, Zipple calculated the impact of not experiencing bereavement on the lifespans of present-day mothers in the United States. His estimates suggest that the decrease in maternal bereavement leads to an average increase in lifespan.
In his paper, Zipple refers to several studies which show a causal relationship between child mortality and an increased risk of maternal death. One of the most thorough studies was conducted on mothers in Iceland over a 200-year period, covering various levels of access to healthcare and industrialization.
According to Zipple’s analysis of CDC data, life expectancy for women over the age of 15 increased by approximately 16 years between 1900 and 2000. He suggests that one year, or roughly 6% of this increase, can be attributed to the significant decrease in childhood mortality throughout the 20th century.
Furthermore, the study helps to establish priorities for future advancements in this area.Zipple noted that child mortality rates in many countries today are comparable to those in the U.S. in 1900. Investing in reducing childhood mortality globally not only benefits the children, but also the entire communities.”
Zipple emphasized,”The child is the core of the community. Protecting children from mortality has various positive impacts that start with mothers but likely extend beyond that.”
