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Child survival: Physical vulnerability and resilience in adversity in the European past and the contemporary Third World

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  • Caldwell, Pat

Abstract

Infant and child physical vulnerability is demonstrated by the extremely high mortality levels in these age groups in the pre-modern West and parts of the contemporary Third World. Some children, such as females or later additions to the family, are subject to disproportionately high mortality risk. In spite of the age-old vulnerability of young children, disproportionate gains have been made in reducing their mortality in modern times. This has been a product of social and individual change, government intervention and biomedical research. These advances exhibit during crises greater resilience to reversal than might be anticipated. Rarely do infant and child mortality levels return more than a fraction of the way to the original levels. The explanation is irreversible changes to individuals and society and the persistence of health knowledge even when health facilities are paralysed.

Suggested Citation

  • Caldwell, Pat, 1996. "Child survival: Physical vulnerability and resilience in adversity in the European past and the contemporary Third World," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 609-619, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:43:y:1996:i:5:p:609-619
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    Cited by:

    1. Enid Schatz & Janet Seeley & Flavia Zalwango, 2018. "Intergenerational care for and by children: Examining reciprocity through focus group interviews with older adults in rural Uganda," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 38(63), pages 2003-2026.
    2. Yeon-Hee Baek & Ju-Young Shin, 2018. "Trends in polypharmacy over 12 years and changes in its social gradients in South Korea," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Naila Kabeer, 2000. "Inter-generational contracts, demographic transitions and the 'quantity-quality' tradeoff: parents, children and investing in the future," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 12(4), pages 463-482.

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