Title: Ethnic differences in mortality in the nineteenth century: a case study of Philadelphia, 1880-81.

POPLINE Document Number: 018157

Author(s):

Condran GA

Source citation:

[Unpublished] 1983 Sep. Presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 14-16, 1983. 35 p.

Abstract:

Comparisons of the mortality levels of Philadelphia's population differentiated by race and place of birth show that only the black/white differential in mortality is substantial in 1880. The native white population and the German population had levels of mortality which were very similar to each other and only slightly lower than that of the Irish population. The life chances of the ethnic groups were consistent with the occupational status of the groups. However, an indirect standardization procedure indicated that the mortality levels of white men could be explained by their occupational status, while black men had considerably higher mortality than would be expected from their distribution by large occupational categories. Members of ethnic groups did not face consistently worse life chances in areas inhabited by many other members of the same group. This result is probably explained by both the low levels of ethnic segregation and the lack of effective medical and public health services in the 19th century city. All ethnic groups did face worse mortality conditions when living in areas inhabited by many low status people. This mortality differential appeared to be largely a result of the individual level correlation between occupational status and mortality, but a small ecological effect on life chances was also observed. (author's modified)

Keywords:

Pennsylvania
Mortality
Ethnic Groups
Blacks
Whites
Urban Population
Population Characteristics
Differential Mortality
Tuberculosis
Socioeconomic Status
Age Factors
Occupations
United States
Life Expectancy
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Cultural Background
Infections
Diseases
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Human Resources
Length of Life