Citation

Remes H, Martikainen P, Valkonen T. Eur. J. Public Health 2011; 21(6): 688-693.

Affiliation

Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/eurpub/ckq159

PMID

21051470

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A growing number of children live in single-parent families, which seems to be associated with negative effects on a child's health. Little is known about the health of children in cohabiting two-parent families that are also increasingly common, and more susceptible to family break-up than married two-parent families. This study seeks to determine if family type is associated with child mortality and whether any association remains after controlling for socio-economic factors. METHODS: We used longitudinal nationally representative register data from Statistics Finland to study deaths between ages 1-14 years (1780 deaths, N = 201 211) during 1990-2004. The relative effects of family characteristics on mortality were estimated using Cox regression models. RESULTS: Compared with children of married parents, children of single parents carried an excess risk in mortality in ages 1-4 years [Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.02, 95% CI 1.63-2.51] and in ages 5-9 years (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.15-1.80). The relationship between single parenthood and mortality was largely, but not entirely, explained by associated low parental education and lower household income. Mortality among children in cohabiting-parent families showed no difference from children of married parents. CONCLUSION: Mainly due to accidental and violent causes of death, the largest excess mortality risks concentrated among children of single, less-educated and less-earning parents. The most vulnerable age period in this respect was early childhood (ages 1-4 years), whereas no association between mortality and family type was found among children aged 10-14 years.

Language: en