Recent Child Mortality and the Gender Gap in LDC - The Brazilian Case (2000-2013)

Laura R. Wong, Cedeplar, UFMG
José Alberto Carvalho, Cedeplar, UFMG
Juliana Vasconcelos, Cedeplar, UFMG
Gabriela Marise O. Bonifacio, Cedeplar, UFMG

The mortality gap between sexes that favors females even before birth is evaluated. Data: demographic censuses and vital statistics (period 2000-2013). Analyses refer to Brazil, a country where infant and child mortality (ICM) have sharply decreased and without evidences of gender preferences at early years of life. Male to Female mortality ratio (MFMR) declines over time thus improvements in ICM favor relatively more baby-boys. Similar evidences are found using vital statistics. Differences are smaller than those found in developed settings or model life tables. MFMR below 100 (male IM lower than IM girls) is frequently found among aged mothers. This general trend is associated to the fast decline in ICM stimulated by huge social investments and MDG accomplishments; data by cause and age of death among babies shows that IM decreased, basically because of huge decrements in the post neonatal mortality where impacts of social policy are more evident.