The Effects of Social Value on Child Mortality: the Case of El Sagrario Parish, Zacatecas, México, 1835-1845

Abstract

he main objective of this paper is to reveal the effect of social value in child mortality in the city of Zacatecas, Mexico, between 1835 and 1845. The source of the data analysed was the departures of deaths of the parish of El Sagrario, and the statistical techniques of historical demography were used under the approach of demographic anthropology. The results indicated differences in the causes of mortality by sex, gender, and age. In neonatal mortality there was a greater number of deaths due to infectious processes (fevers), especially diseases related to the respiratory system, and there was a male predominance (53 per cent). From the second year of life female mortality has a predominance. Due to gastrointestinal infections, fevers, nutritional deficiencies, and epidemic diseases (measles), women recorded higher mortality (53 per cent), especially from measles. These results suggest that the cultural value attributed to gender had a fundamental role towards the care provided to children.