The education of women strongly correlated to decreased childhood mortality

The Sept. 18 issue of The Lancet featured an article titled "The benefits of educating women" in which John Cleland highlighted a recent study linking parental education and child mortality in developing nations.

The claim was made that "Mothers' schooling is a more decisive influence than is fathers." The correlation between a mother's mindful care of her children and survival is much higher than the correlation of increased income.

The study concludes that the reduction in child mortality is in large part due to the increased education of women since 1970 in the countries studied.

Mothers tend to have more influence over sickness, disease prevention and hygiene. Also relevant, the more education a mother has received, the more likely she will be to take her child to a health care facility.

The study, done by Emmanuela Gakidou, also connected the education of women to decreased birth rates, which stabilize population growth and decrease poverty.

With education playing such a large role in developing nations, it is no doubt education also plays a decisive role in the lives of Utah women and their families. Studies continue to conclude that educating women is a crucial component of having successful families and a diversified and functional economy.

To read the full article, click on the headline of this article and sign up to have access to content within The Lancet for free.

The Utah Women and Education Project featured on KSL

Utah Women and Education Project Director Susan Madsen and Dr. Cheryl Hanewicz, assistant professor in Technology Management at UVU, were highlighted on KSL Aug. 29.

They were interviewed regarding their research into the higher education gap between Utah men and women.

Madsen explained that the intial work of the project has gone straight to the source: the young women of Utah. They have been talking to women from various backgrounds, trying to piece together the puzzle of why some women choose to complete a higher education while some do not.

"We really want to understand what they are thinking," Madsen said during the interview.

Deciphering how numerous influences affect the mindset and ambitions of Utah women will be no easy task. Thereafter developing methods to encourage them to obtain college degrees will be equally difficult.

And yet, these women, along with their supporters, are prepared for the challenge. Their dedication to improving the educational experience of Utah women is unyielding.

"Education is so much more important than just getting a job. It's good for the family, they're more involved in their communities, healthier, wealthier families," Hanewicz said in the interview.

Their findings will be presented at the Utah Women and Education Summit scheduled for Nov. 12, 2010.

Identifying a College Path For All: A Conference For Counselors

In an effort to encourage those involved in higher education to create a college experience that is accessible to all women, a conference is being held on Sept. 17 at Salt Lake Community College, Miller Campus.

The conference will allow counselors to contemplate and refine their methods and to learn how to maximize the positive affect they have on young women.

Dr. Susan R. Madsen, project director of the Utah Women & Education Project and associate professor of Management at Utah Valley University, will instigate dialogue regarding the obstacles Utah women currently face and identify ways in which individuals can assist women in pursuit of college degrees.

If you are interested in attending the event, click on this post's headline and register today!