Season of birth predicts mortality in rural Gambia

Sophie E. Moore, Timothy J. Cole, Elizabeth M. E. Poskitt, Bakary J. Sonko, Roger G. Whitehead, Ian A. McGregor and Andrew M. Prentice ()
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Sophie E. Moore: MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
Timothy J. Cole: MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
Elizabeth M. E. Poskitt: MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
Bakary J. Sonko: MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
Roger G. Whitehead: MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
Ian A. McGregor: MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit
Andrew M. Prentice: MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit

Nature, 1997, vol. 388, issue 6641, 434-434

Abstract: 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.

Date: 1997
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:388:y:1997:i:6641:d:10.1038_41245

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DOI: 10.1038/41245

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