Single mothers three times more likely to have children who die young

New figures show that babies born to married couples are far less likely to die before their first birthday than those whose father is estranged or unknown.

The children of single mothers were also more likely to have dangerously low birth weights and to be born prematurely.

Experts said the differences were down to the fact that single parents were usually poorer than married ones. They and their children lived less healthy lifestyles and were less likely to seek help from their doctor.

The Office for National Statistics looked at all births and categorised them into those who were born to professional couples, lower middle-class couples, working-class couples and single mothers.

The single mother figure was not split up according to the social class of the mother.

The ONS found that 2.8 per 1,000 babies born to single mothers die between the age of one month and one year, compared to 0.8 among those born to managerial or professional couples.

Single mothers are twice as likely to have children who die young than those babies born to couples where the father is in a manual occupation.

The findings are just as stark among babies born prematurely - before 37 weeks. Of these, 13.7 per 1,000 died if their mother was single compared to only 5.8 to professional couples.

In general, single mothers are more likely to give birth to children pre-term and with a low birth weight, putting them at risk of health problems in later life.

The ONS also found that 9.6 per cent of all single mothers gave birth to babies prematurely, compared to only 6.7 per cent for managerial and professional couples.

For babies born very prematurely indeed - those at less than 28 weeks - the difference is even more stark. Single mothers were around 50 per cent more likely to give birth to babies before 28 weeks.

As well as being more likely to die young, children born underweight are prone to a low IQ, poor cognitive functioining and learning disabilities. They are also more likely to exhibit behavioural problems at school. Britain has the second worst rate for low birth weights in western Europe.

Jane Brewin, chief executive of the premature baby charity Tommy's said: "These statistics are absolutely shocking. The disparities shown in this research give a clear indication that more research urgently needs to be done into this area.

"Rather than vilifying single mothers, it is important that we look into the wider socio-economic factors that are impacting on this phenomenon."

Norman Wells of Family and Youth Concern said: "No one disputes the fact that lone parents can successfully raise children in the most difficult of circumstances.

"But at the same time, all the available evidence tells us that, on average, children do far better when they are brought up by a mother and father who have made a lifelong commitment to each other in marriage.

"We don't do anyone any favours if we try to pretend that all family forms are of equal value to children and to society."

Overall, there were 3,200 deaths in the first year of life among all babies born in 2005 - giving an overall death rate of 5 per 1,000.

But while the death rate was only 1.8 per 1,000 for babies born at full term, it shot up to 42.1 for babies born prematurely.