Effects of Religious Exemption Laws on Child Mortality: A Study for the Community “Followers of Christ” in Idaho, United States

Abstract

Idaho is one of the states in the US that permits parents to forgo medical care for their children due to religious beliefs. On the other hand, a family could be accused of child neglect if it stops providing medical care for any other reason. This study compares age-specific death rates among ‘The Followers of Christ’, a group that rejects medical care, and the general population in the same region to assess the implications of the practice. The comparison is done by using data from the cemetery where the members of the community are interred, and the Dry Creek cemetery in Boise, ID, used by the general population. Because of variations in child mortality rates, the difference is statistically significant.

Keywords: Religious exemption laws, child mortality rates, demographic analysis.