Lone Motherhood and Health Status

This study focuses on the health status of women with children, particularly lone mothers, the beneficiaries of many policies. Data from the 1994 Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey indicate that lone mothers have, on average, consistently lower unconditional health status than married mothers. However, lone mothers also have, on average, lower levels of health inputs. Once age, income, education, lifestyle factors, family size, and other recognized determinants of health are controlled for, lone mothers are at least no worse off than married mothers when it comes to health status. This evidence points toward promoting policies directed at increasing the education, income and lifestyle factors of lone mothers if we wish to improve their health status.