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Season of birth predicts mortality in rural Gambia

Author

Listed:
  • Sophie E. Moore

    (MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
    MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit)

  • Timothy J. Cole

    (MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
    MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit)

  • Elizabeth M. E. Poskitt

    (MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
    MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit)

  • Bakary J. Sonko

    (MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
    MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit)

  • Roger G. Whitehead

    (MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
    MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit)

  • Ian A. McGregor

    (MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
    MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit)

  • Andrew M. Prentice

    (MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
    MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit)

Abstract

We present evidence that events in early life strongly influence the adult survival prospects of rural Africans. Our analysis of births and deaths in three Gambian villages dating back to 1949 shows that people born during the annual ‘hungry season’ are up to 10 times more likely to die prematurely in young adulthood. A permanent effect of malnutrition on the development of the immune system during fetal growth seems a likely explanation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie E. Moore & Timothy J. Cole & Elizabeth M. E. Poskitt & Bakary J. Sonko & Roger G. Whitehead & Ian A. McGregor & Andrew M. Prentice, 1997. "Season of birth predicts mortality in rural Gambia," Nature, Nature, vol. 388(6641), pages 434-434, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:388:y:1997:i:6641:d:10.1038_41245
    DOI: 10.1038/41245
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gerard van den Berg & Gabriele Doblhammer-Reiter & Kaare Christensen, 2011. "Being Born Under Adverse Economic Conditions Leads to a Higher Cardiovascular Mortality Rate Later in Life: Evidence Based on Individuals Born at Different Stages of the Business Cycle," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(2), pages 507-530, May.
    2. van den Berg, Gerard J. & Doblhammer, Gabriele & Christensen, Kaare, 2009. "Exogenous determinants of early-life conditions, and mortality later in life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(9), pages 1591-1598, May.
    3. Gajigo, Ousman & Schwab, Benjamin, 2012. "The Rhythm of the Rains: Seasonal Effects on Child Health in The Gambia," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126343, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Tom P. Fleming & Congshan Sun & Oleg Denisenko & Laura Caetano & Anan Aljahdali & Joanna M. Gould & Pooja Khurana, 2021. "Environmental Exposures around Conception: Developmental Pathways Leading to Lifetime Disease Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-19, September.
    5. Ouedraogo, Aissatou & Dillon, Andrew & Maiga, Eugenie W.H., 2018. "Social networks, production of micronutrient-rich foods, and child health outcomes in Burkina Faso," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273883, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Yamauchi, Futoshi, 2012. "Long-term Impacts of Rice Price and Production Seasonality on Human Capital: Evidence from Rural Indonesia," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126163, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    7. Futoshi Yamauchi, 2012. "Prenatal Seasonality, Child Growth, and Schooling Investments: Evidence from Rural Indonesia," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(9), pages 1323-1341, September.
    8. Peter Ueda & Anna-Karin Edstedt Bonamy & Fredrik Granath & Sven Cnattingius, 2013. "Month of Birth and Mortality in Sweden: A Nation-Wide Population-Based Cohort Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(2), pages 1-7, February.
    9. Ousman Bajinka & Amadou Barrow & Sang Mendy & Binta J. J. Jallow & Jarry Jallow & Sulayman Barrow & Ousman Bah & Saikou Camara & Modou Lamin Colley & Sankung Nyabally & Amie N. Joof & Mingming Qi & Yu, 2022. "The Influence of Parental Environmental Exposure and Nutrient Restriction on the Early Life of Offspring Growth in Gambia—A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.

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