Historical sex ratio in fetal mortality in the United States and its impact on the sex ratio at birth
Articles
Overview
published in
- Popolazione e Storia Journal
publication date
- October 2022
start page
- 9
end page
- 35
issue
- 2
volume
- 23
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1591-4798
abstract
-
This paper presents a detailed historical study of several variables (mother's age, gestational age,
blood level of vitamin D, maternal marital status and birth order) that may influence the sex ratio
in fetal mortality in the United States. The analysis goes from 1922 to the present. We analyze
the impact of each of these variables in two major racial groups (White and Black). We also provide
evidence on how the historical decline in fetal mortality rates affected the sex ratio at birth,
particularly among the Black population, confirming the results obtained in various European
countries. The detailed analysis of the variables affecting sex disparities in fetal mortality helps us
to understand why the sex ratio at birth developed differently in the White population.
Classification
keywords
- stillbirth; fetal death rate; united states; vitamin d; sex inequalities; maternal age; gestational age; birth order; mother’s stress level.