bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Involuntary Childlessness
Authors: Van Keep P. A. , Schmidt-Elmendorff H.
Published: July 2008

The problem of involuntary childlessness and its effect on marital happiness has been studied in an investigation involving interviews with 75 childless couples and a matched control of 75 couples with children. Marital happiness in various phases of the couple's relationship is plotted; in childless women this is seen to fall to its lowest ebb during the phase immediately before the problem is brought to the attention of the doctor, whilst in men it occurs whilst waiting for the medical diagnosis to be made. It seems that whilst childless marriages in themselves are not necessarily less happy than those with children (though all the childless couples interviewed had sought to change their situation by seeking medical help) such marriages are based on a different equilibrium from that of couples with children. In childless marriages there is often closer communication between the partners and a greater degree of communis opinio. People with children are sometimes over-careful in their approach to those without children. Attitudes and behaviour with regard to fidelity are seen to differ; the childless couples interviewed were less permissive in this respect than those with children. Alternatives in the form of artificial insemination, adoption, careers and pets are briefly considered.
The behaviour of children at home who were severely malnourished in the first 2 years of life
Authors: Richardson S. A , Birch H. G , Ragbeer C
Published: July 2008

Studies of school age children who were severely malnourished in infancy have focused primarily on somatic growth and intelligence, but information about behaviour is almost completely lacking. In this study the social behaviour of 71 Jamaican school boys who were severely malnourished in infancy (index subjects) is compared with that of classmates of the same age and sex (comparisons) and also with the nearest sibling of the same sex where available. The child's behaviour in his home setting was assessed through an interview with the child's parent or parent substitute. It was found that the index children differed significantly from their comparisons in several ways. They were less liked by siblings and more unhappy at school. They more often behaved immaturely, were more clumsy and were either more highly active or lethargic. They were also more often withdrawn, solitary or unsociable. Differences between index boys and their siblings were not statistically significant on individual questions but were in the same direction as the index-comparision differences. No relationship was found between the age when admitted to hospital for malnutrition and later behaviour. Examination of the aetiological role of malnutrition and other biological and social factors is the next step in the present study.
Development of verbal skills in first-born and only boys
Authors: Cropley A. J , Ahlers K. H
Published: July 2008

Verbal IQs were calculated for 60 boys who had no siblings (only boys) and 64 who were the first in a sibline (first borns) at two age levels—6 and 7 years versus 11 and 12 years. In addition to a pronounced socioeconomic status (SES) effect, three of four subgroups of only boys obtained significantly higher mean IQs than first borns. These data were interpreted as supporting the view that development of verbal abilities is facilitated by contact with parental models of language behaviour, only boys benefiting from closer contact than first borns. However, interactions among IQs, age and SES suggested that although mere increased contact is adequate to foster verbal development in younger children, quality of parental stimulation is important at higher age levels.
A retrospective study of patients seeking pregnancy advice, January 1971 to June 1974
Authors: Coles Ruth
Published: July 2008

This is a retrospective study of 1754 patients seen at the Brook Pregnancy Advice Service (Avon) in the 3½ years January 1971 to June 1974; 1653 patients were referred for termination of pregnancy. The ages of the patients ranged from 13 to 44 years; the age peak was 19 years. Most patients attended between the 7th and 10th weeks of pregnancy; the peak was at 8 weeks. The majority of patients from outside the clinical area were referred for abortion privately. Patients from within the clinical area were referred to the NHS slightly more often than privately. There is a delay of 2–4 weeks for an NHS gynaecological appointment and a further 1–4 weeks before termination. Private patients are seen within 7 days and their abortions are performed within a few days. Patients from within the clinical area are more likely to return to the clinic for follow-up. There is a considerable fall-off in the continuation of follow-up for all patients returning to the clinic.
Physique and socio-economic variables in university girls
Authors: Dann T. C , Roberts D. F
Published: July 2008

The physique of 1888 girls, all born in 1939 or later, who entered University College Swansea in the period 1959–70, was investigated to see whether variations in height, weight and ponderal index were correlated with various factors in their family environment. Analysis of variance, multiple regression, and covariance analysis showed that stature and ponderal index varied according to social class and year of birth. However, analysis of a local subsample of the data indicates that these effects are primarily due to the changing composition of the student intake over the years, and the regional heterogeneity of the sample.
The decline in fertility in England and Wales since 1964
Authors: Pollard G. N.
Published: July 2008

The decline in the number of legitimate live births in England and Wales from the peak in 1964 has been partitioned into components due to changes in fertility rates, components due to changes in the composition of the population exposed to risk, and an interaction component. Fertility rates specific for age of mother at birth of child, duration of marriage, parity and age of mother at marriage were considered but in all cases it was found that the decline was not as great as the change in fertility rates implied. This was due to increases in the number of births due to changes in the composition of the population exposed to risk.

The decline in the number of births due to changes in fertility rates specific for age of mother/duration of marriage/parity/age at marriage has been expressed as a percentage of the number of births to each specific group and it was found that generally the percentage decline became greater as age of mother/duration of marriage/parity/age at marriage increased. However this did not apply for the youngest age groups, the shortest durations of marriage, the youngest ages at marriage and the lowest parity. This result needs further investigation. Is this evidence of a deferment of births by young mothers (with short durations, low parities and young ages at marriage)? Alternatively, is this evidence of the beginning of a really significant and widespread change of attitude to family size?
Indirect measurements of family size preferences and of abortion
Authors: Barret J. C.
Published: July 2008

Matrices are derived for converting the proportions of couples wanting various completed family sizes to proportions attaining given sizes of families at a given time, based on a simulation model in which couples commence the regular use of contraception as soon as the decision is made to have not more than one further child. The matrices are adapted to include a proportion of ‘prospective aborters’ who are prepared to have recourse to abortion if contraception fails. A measure of consistency between the family size preferences estimated for different durations of marriage is introduced. This measure, together with the conversion matrices, is used to estimate the distribution of aborters and of family size preferences among a cohort of women married in England and Wales in 1920–24 at ages 20–24.
Human aggressive behaviour: the period of perpetration in relation to month of birth of male offenders
Authors: Kop Paul P. A. M.
Published: July 2008

A sample of 442 males living in Amsterdam and convicted for ill-treatment without malice prepense in 1970 and 1971, was drawn from the files of the Central Bureau of Statistics in The Netherlands to study a possible relationship between the birth month of male offenders, the annual period of perpetration and the age at which the offence is committed. The results suggest that in Amsterdam the perpetration of aggressive delinquencies during the annual period is to some degree correlated with the (calendar) month of birth. It seems that particular seasonal conditions only have an effect if these occur within a limited period before or after the birth month. Additionally, a long-term effect has been found, showing that the age at which the offence is committed is to some degree correlated with the month of birth. So far, causal factors are not known. However, other studies suggest the influence of seasonal meteorological conditions, although periodical social factors should not be excluded.
sexual and contraceptive attitudes and behaviour of single attenders at a Dublin family planning clinic
Authors: Philbin Bowman Eimer
Published: July 2008

A preliminary breakdown of the characteristics of all new attenders at a Dublin family planning clinic during the first 6 months of 1974, showed that just under half of those attending were unmarried at the time of their first visit. Of these single women, three in five planned to marry shortly and two in five had no marriage plans. The main part of the study concentrates on this latter group. A sample of 50 women was interviewed and the results provide some factual data on their family and educational background, their sexual and contraceptive behaviour and their attitudes to related issues. They came mainly from upper-middle income groups and had a high standard of education. Although they were, almost without exception, born into Roman Catholic families, only just over a quarter were regular church attenders. All but 6% were already sexually experienced at the time of their first visit and most were now involved in a stable sexual relationship which involved having intercourse at least once a month; while well informed on contraception, only a small minority had always used a reliable method. Since the mean interval between first intercourse and their first visit to the clinic was over 2.2 years, the majority had been at risk of becoming pregnant. One in six of those interviewed had experienced pregnancy and half of these had sought an abortion. While 76% of the sample considered abortion acceptable in at least extreme cases, only 12% were without strong moral reservations; in the event of pregnancy 32% would consider seeking an abortion. A correlational analysis of some of the results is presented.
Tylosis in the Orkney Islands
Authors: Muir Veronica M. L.
Published: July 2008

The familial condition of tylosis was found in a single extended family in the Orkney islands. Unlike other pedigrees described it has no association with carcinoma of the oesophagus. Various linkage studies have been suggested and pooling of available data would offer a more constructive approach. Electron microscopy suggests further biochemical analysis on affected and normal skin to elucidate the underlying factors causing hyperkeratinization, and possibly resulting in more sophisticated treatment for this irritable but harmless condition.
Survival Sequence of Infants: a Factorial Analysis
Authors: Prasad Rudranand , Prasad Akhileshwar
Published: July 2008

The technique of analysing factorial experiments has been used in this paper to analyse data on survival sequence of infants. Even though no generalizations can be made at this stage, the findings relating to interactions appear to be interesting, revealing and useful. Strong associations between survivorship of infants at successive birth orders are indicated.
A causal concept Of disease in an Iranian community
Authors: Alemi Ali A. , Mohseni Manouchehr
Published: July 2008

In 1975, as part of a socio-medical survey in a southern province of Iran, the influence of socio-cultural variables on behaviour in relation to illness and on beliefs about the causes of disease was examined. It was found that traditional beliefs such as ‘luck’ and religion were related to locality and age. For instance, the urban literate community puts less emphasis than the illiterate rural population on such beliefs. Older people and those living in rural areas still tend to believe in as ‘evil eye’ as a cause of disease, but a small percentage of old people in both localities do believe that flies can cause disease. The causal role of culture or specific elements of culture on health and disease requires further study.
Social classes for women of differing marital status
Authors: Kingsley Su , McEwan John
Published: July 2008

Studies involving collation of social characteristics of women frequently include statements about their social class designation and may compare groups in different classes against other variables. The method of making such a designation is very unsatisfactory and may lead to spurious conclusions arising from the method of classification.

When designation is carried out by a method primarily concerned with married women's own occupations rather than those of their husbands, some of the apparent differences in distribution are lost. It is possible to examine married and unmarried women together if those in both groups work outside the home.

Such considerations are particularly important in data relating to reproductive behaviour, such as abortion statistics and studies of births or the use of contraception.
Age at Paternity in England and Wales, 1901–60
Authors: Hare E. H. , Moran P. A. P.
Published: July 2008

Except for the year 1931, no information is available on age at paternity in England and Wales before 1961. But such information is needed to determine the aetiological significance of raised maternal age, for example that which has been reported for several types of psychiatric disorder. Parental age at the birth of a respondent was studied in a survey of 2000 persons forming a quota sample of the adult population of England and Wales. Checks against the available national statistics suggest the findings for age at paternity can be accepted with some confidence.
Abelam yam beliefs and sociorhythmicity: a study in chronoanthropology
Authors: Scaglion Richard , Condon Richard G.
Published: July 2008

The Western Abelam of Papua New Guinea display an annual cycle of social conflicts and births which is a function of a system of ritual beliefs involved in the growing of ceremonial yams. This sociorhythmic ritual complex involves adherence to various taboos which encourage a 6-month period in which social conflict is avoided and sexual activity is markedly curtailed. Conflict case studies and demographic data collected from one village over a 15-month period indicate significant seasonal variation in various areas of Abelam social life and suggest that sociorhythmic phenomena can affect both social behaviour and demographic patterns of human groups. Alternative environmental and nutritional hypotheses are also investigated.
Teenage sexual behaviour: perceptive and behavioural outcomes associated with receipt of family planning services
Authors: Akpom C. Amechi , Akpom Kathy L. , Mayer Suzanne , olesak Ann
Published: July 2008

The sexual behaviour of 71 teenage girls who attended an information and discussion session at a family planning clinic was examined. Sixty-one of these girls later received contraceptive services at the clinic (clinic group) and their behaviour was compared at follow-up with that of the ten girls who did not attend the clinic again (non-clinic group). The mean frequency of sexual intercourse of the clinic group increased after receiving contraceptive services but did not differ significantly from the figure for the non-clinic group. The majority of the girls restricted their sexual activity to one partner.
Seasonality of births in south-eastern Nigeria
Authors: Ogum G. E. O. , Okorafor A. E.
Published: July 2008

The monthly distribution of births in the south-eastern states of Nigeria shows a seasonal pattern with a peak during the months of April-June, and a trough during November-January. This suggests that a disproportionate number of conceptions or matings occurs during the relatively cool months of July-September. In south-eastern Nigeria, these are months of relative idleness characterized by reduced work on the farms, abundance of fruits, vegetables and palm wine, and an increased tendency to stay indoors due to heavy and frequent rains. These conditions are considered conducive to increased intercourse
Abortion choices in the philippines
Authors: Gallen Moira
Published: July 2008

Although abortion is still illegal in the Philippines it appears to be increasing. This article reviews the methods to which women wanting to terminate a pregnancy resort, in spite of the health risks attached to them; these traditional practices include the use of herbal and pharmaceutical preparations supposedly with abortifacient properties, catheter insertion, abdominal massage and dilatation and curettage. It then goes on to discuss menstrual data from the records of two doctors in one ciry who are amongst the relatively small number of people in the country who are using the technique at the present time.
Fertility control without modernization: evidence from a rural Indian community
Authors: Vlassoff Carol
Published: July 2008

Data from a survey of 349 fertile married women are used to examine the significance of cultural context for contraceptive behaviour in a traditional Indian village. While sterilization was widely sanctioned, other methods were little known, favoured or used. Relationship with modernization indicators also varied for different contraceptive techniques.

Traditional respondents were as favourable towards sterilization as modern women, but modern women were significantly more likely to accept other methods. These results are attributed to differential government efforts which have placed almost exclusive emphasis upon sterilization. It is argued that an expanded family planning programme would overcome the inertia of tradition concerning non-terminal contraception.
Effect of age at first marriage, number of wives, and type of marital union on fertility
Authors: Sembajwe Israel
Published: July 2008

This paper examines the effect of age at first marriage, number of wives and type of marital union on fertility among Yoruba females in Western Nigeria. The evidence indicates that age at first marriage and hunband's number of wives do not have a significant effect on completed fertility. Type of marital union, on the other hand, seems to have an effect on fertility. Women in de facto unions experience lower fertility than women in formal marriages.
Fertility of the Korean population in Japan influenced by a folk superstition in 1966
Authors: Kim Yoon Shin
Published: July 2008

Fertility trends for Korean populations in Japan and Korea and for Japanese have been examinated, with special reference to the Fire-Horse or White-Horse year, 1966.

Koreans in Japan and the Japanese showed a remarkable drop in crude birth rates and a sharp increase in stillbirth rates in 1966, while Koreans in Korea showed only a steady decline in crude birth rate.

It was concluded that the Japanese folk superstition of Hinoe-Uma influenced the crude birth rates and stillbirth rates of both Japanese and Koreans in Japan 1966 and that the fertility behaviour of these Koreans had come to resemble that of the Japanese through the effect of environment factors in Japanese society.
Contraceptive risk-taking in a population with limited access to abortion
Authors: Horowitz Diane R. , Oechsli Frank W.
Published: July 2008

At a time when abortion was not readily available, among married women over half of unintended pregnancies occurred with no use or discontinued use of contraception. Many of these contraceptive drifters had prior experience with effective contraception. Contraceptive drifting was more common for low parity births. Different characteristics differentiated drifters from contraception failures in low- (1–2) and high- (3+) parity women. Among low-parity women, more drifting was found where the husband was enthusiastic about having the child, the woman's education or occupation was low, the husband's occupation was craftsman or operative, his education was low or his income was high. Among high-parity women, drifting was more common for white mothers, those with a previous marriage or a child by another father, or for mothers or fathers with low education. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.
Voluntary sterilization in Flanders
Authors: Cliquet R. L. , Thiery M. , Staelens R. , Lambert G.
Published: July 2008

In a follow-up of males and females after voluntary surgical sterilization, the social characteristics of the applicants, their fertility and contraceptive history, their motivation, the indication for and mode of surgical contraception, the physical and psychological consequences of the operation, and the outcome of the selection and counselling procedures applied, were studied in a sample of 275 applications with a total of 540 subjects. The survey comprised the pre-operative examination, the first post-operative evaluation 4 months after surgery and the second after 12 months.

The main reasons for applying for sterilization were excess fertility due to contraceptive failures and side-effects of reversible contraceptive methods. Almost all of the patients were satisfied with the operation, one of the highest proportions reported so far. Nevertheless, many experienced a real adjustment period. Notwithstanding the careful pre-operative information and counselling, serious fears were often observed, and many found the operation more severe than expected. For the vast majority of the patients the operation had no influence on their family relations. The sexual relationship too was usually unchanged. If there were changes, the positive effects always exceeded the negative ones.

The high response to both the evaluations and the high proportions of satisfied individuals are in favour of the selection procedures and multidisciplinary counselling and follow-up practised.
Hong Kong Married abortion applicants: a comparison with married women who elect to complete their pregnancies
Authors: Lieh-Mak F. , Tam Y. K. , Ng S.
Published: July 2008

The authors compared 130 married abortion applicants with 100 married pregnant women who were attending the antenatal clinic. The abortion applicants were more likely to have had unhappy childhoods, broken homes, sexual pathology and more children. Their neuroticism scores on the Maudsley Personality Inventory were significantly higher. They tended to use either no contraception or unreliable methods. They were older and tended to report more socioeconomic problems. The characteristics of abortion applicants in this study seem to be similar to those reported from other countries.
Seasonality of fertility in Matlab, Bangladesh
Authors: Becker Stan
Published: July 2008

From matched birth and census records in the Matlab area of Bangladesh, monthly fertility rates for the period 1970–74 are studied for seasonal patterns by age and parity. Trigonometric regression techniques are used to summarize and compare the multiple series. Pronounced seasonal patterns are apparent for all age and parity groups. The general fertility rate peaks in December with a seasonal variation of 42% above and below the mean level. For younger women at low parities the peak is in late October, while for older women of higher parity it is in January. The shift progresses linearly with age and parity though the age effect is the more pronounced. A seasonal pattern of fecundability which varies by age group could explain the shift.
Variation Between Couples of Human Coital Rates
Authors: James W. H.
Published: July 2008

Distributions of reported coital rates are positively skewed. The means of such distributions seem to be roughly proportional, not to their variances, but to their standard deviations.

The coefficient of variation of distributions of reported coital rates—at least for relatively homogeneous samples—is of the order of 2/3. It is estimated that the coefficient of variation of the distribution of true (as opposed to reported) values would be about ½ at the time of first conception.
Fertility and Infant Mortality Levels in Pakistan: A Reassessment of the 1971 Population Growth Survey
Authors: Yusuf Farhat
Published: July 2008

This paper examines the results of the 1971 Population Growth Survey in Pakistan and attempts to reassess the fertility and infant mortality levels utilizing some unpublished data on children ever born and proportion surviving. These adjusted fertility and infant mortality rates show that there has been hardly any decline in the fertility and infant mortality levels in Pakistan during the decade ending in 1971.
Characteristics and attitudes of family planners in Khartoum, Sudan
Authors: Khalifa M. A.
Published: July 2008

In a survey of 1475 urban Moslem wives in the age group 15–49 living in the capital city of the Sudan, knowledge of birth control was reported by almost all respondents while a significant proportion had used contraception at least once. The mean age of the users was 32·8 years, their duration of marriage was 15·1 years and their mean number of surviving children was 4·6. Those who had never used contraception had a higher mean age, a longer duration of marriage and more surviving children. Most of the users had an urban residential background and belonged to the high socioeconomic class. They held favourable attitudes to family planning. Although they thought that having a large family (more than five children) was not desirable, their mean preferred family size was no different from that of the never users.

The results indicate that contraception is used for the purpose of spacing births rather than limiting their ultimate number. At this early stage of contraceptive adoption in Sudan, the characteristics of the pioneer acceptors are similar to those observed in other African countries.
Social factors related to rhesus isoimmunization
Authors: Barron S. L. , Edington P. T.
Published: July 2008

Seventy women with rhesus isoimmunization, referred to hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, when compared with the overall hospital population, showed an excess of pregnancies by more than one partner. By comparing them with a control group it was demonstrated that the differences in marital pattern were explained in terms of age, parity and social class. One or other parent of babies affected by haemolytic disease of the newborn was more likely than controls to undergo subsequent sterilization.
Social and demographic determinants of fertility in Sri Lanka
Authors: Fernando Dallas F. S.
Published: July 2008

The paper explores the social and demographic factors that influence fertility in Sri Lanka since the second world war employing multiple regression analysis, and how these factors change with time. The dominating contribution made by female proportions currently married in the age group 20–24 in explaining fertility variation is emphasized.
Contraceptive sterilization in four Latin American countries
Authors: McCarthy James
Published: July 2008

The use of sterilization as a method of contraception is increasing rapidly throughout the world. This paper reports on sterilization rates for women in Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Panama in relation to demographic characteristics. Comparisons are made with non-sterilized women using other efficient contraceptive methods.

The sterilization rates range from 0·161 in Colombia to 0·552 in Panama; births averted are calculated as one-quarter in Colombia, one-half in Costa Rica and one in the Dominican Republic and Panama.
Coital frequency and sexual abstinence in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Ruzicka L. T. , Bhatia S.
Published: July 2008

The paper analyses results of a survey of sexual and reproductive behaviour in a sample of 2301 currently married women aged less than 50 years. The survey was conducted in 22 villages of the ICDDR, B field station in Bangladesh. Admittedly, the sample is not representative as co-operation could not be obtained from about one-third of eligible women. The results suggest higher coital frequencies among Hindu than among Muslim respondents. There appears to be a clear age and marriage duration pattern with coital frequencies declining rapidly to a plateau after about 5 years of marriage and among women aged 25 and over, followed by another steep decline at durations of marriage over 20 years and age 40 and more. Generally, recently married, young, non-breast-feeding, non-contracepting and pregnant respondents reported higher coital frequencies than their peers of opposite characteristics. Post-partum abstinence among both Muslims and Hindus was comparatively short, generally not exceeding 3 months.
The high fertility of Sri Lanka Moor concentrations
Authors: Fernando Dallas F. S.
Published: July 2008

All centres of Sri Lanka Moor concentration were identified, together accounting for 87·2% of the total Moor population of the island. The variations in the child/woman ratio that occur locally between wards within these communities show strong negative correlations with two measures of departure from conservatism, the proportion of females of school age attending school and the proportion of males engaged in non-agricultural occupations. These two variates together account for the greater part of the variation in the child/woman ratio from ward to ward in 1971.
Fertility differentials in Nepal
Authors: Gubhaju Bhakta
Published: July 2008

The present paper is based on data from the Nepal Fertility Survey 1976 and examines the fertility differentials in Nepal by socioeconomic variables. Of all the variables examined in this study marital duration is found to have the greatest impact on fertility. With standardization for marital duration, women in the mountains have a lower number of children ever-born than women in the hills and terai. Education of husbands rather than wives seems to affect fertility in Nepal.
Historical population structure of two Tasmanian communities using surname analyses
Authors: Kosten M. , Williams J. , Mitchell R. J.
Published: July 2008

This paper reports the first data on historical population structure in white Australians. Vital records and census data from two Tasmanian registration districts, Oatlands and Bothwell, were examined using surname analysis to investigate population structure in the nineteenth century. Both were colonising populations and therefore initially had massive immigration and a very high sex ratio. Inbreeding, as measured by marital isonymy, was relatively high in Oatlands, especially in the context of its short history. Although genetic continuity, measured by surname constancy, was relatively low, a small but distinct core was detectable. Bothwell, the smaller community, exhibited very little inbreeding and, concomitantly, low surname constancy. The coefficient of relationship by isonymy between Oatlands and Bothwell was extremely low. These findings are discussed in the context of the known socio-political history of this region of Tasmania.
Mental health and female sterilization
Authors: Jablensky A.
Published: July 2008

In order to evaluate the mental health aspects of voluntary sterilization for family planning purposes, WHO initiated in 1978 a multi-centre prospective controlled study. A total of 926 healthy women with at least two living children, who requested sterilization (interval, post-partum or post-abortion), and 924 controls using other methods of contraception, were selected for a prospective investigation which included pre-operative and post-operative (6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year) standardized assessment of mental state and a range of variables related to physical health and psychosexual functioning. Although pre-operatively a high proportion of subjects in both index and control groups reported minor non-specific psychiatric symptoms the percentage of women meeting defined criteria of psychiatric disorder was low to moderate (less than 15%) in all centres except Cali (26%). In all centres the pre-operative rates of psychiatric disorder were somewhat higher in the sterilization groups than in the control groups, and in two centres (Cali and Chandigarh) this difference was statistically significant. Thus, the data indicate that women choosing sterilization for birth control tend to show pre-operatively more psychiatric disturbance than their control counterparts who opt for other methods of contraception.
Genetic evolution of the Samaritans
Authors: Cazes M. H. , Bonne-Tamir B.
Published: July 2008

Detailed pedigrees of the small Samaritan isolate covering the last thirteen generations and consisting of 82 founders and 670 descendants allowed calculations of (a) the probability of origin of genes from particular founder members, and (b) the total number of descendants from each founder. Analysis of the matrix of distances between the thirteen generations identified the kind and the direction of the evolution of this community: rapid evolution from the first to the eighth generation due to the small population size, slowly progressing towards a stable state in the last three generations.
Contraception: answers of wives and husbands compared in a survey of Swiss couples
Authors: Höpflinger F. , Kühne F.
Published: July 2008

In a survey of Swiss couples, the husband-wife agreement on contraception (current use, and methods ever used) is high and husbands are generally as well informed on the use of contraceptive methods as their wives. The data indicate that the use of condoms may be underestimated in interviewing women only and that the contraceptive behaviour of a couple is related to the fertility preferences of both wife and husband.
Geographic distribution of surnames in Britain: the Smiths and Joneses
Authors: Mascie-Taylor C. G. N. , Lasker G. W.
Published: July 2008

The geographic distribution of the Smiths and Joneses among all persons married in England and Wales in 3 months of 1975 showed well defined frequency clines comparable to those of blood group distributions. Polynomial regressions of relative frequencies of these surnames on latitude and longitude account for 12% and 36% of the variation among registration districts in frequency of Smiths and Joneses, respectively.
Demographic characteristics of a rural area in Kenya in 1974–80
Authors: van Ginneken J. K. , Muller A. S. , Voorhoeve A. M. , Omondi-Odhiambo
Published: July 2008

A longitudinal, epidemiological study was carried out in a rural area of Kenya with a population of about 28,000 between 1974 and 1980. Population registration during this time showed that population growth was very high between 1974 and 1978 (4·4% per year) and much lower in 1979 and 1980 (1·1%). Natural increase was nearly as high as in Kenya as a whole (3·7%) in this period. Fertility was somewhat lower than in all Kenya (the crude birth rate was 46 per 1000) while mortality was substantially lower (7 per 1000). Evidence is presented supporting the argument that these low mortality rates are genuine. Levels of temporary and permanent migration are high and probably characteristic for many parts of Kenya. The change in population growth in 1979 and 1980 is probably due to changes in economic conditions leading in particular to less in-migration and to more out-migration.
Consanguinity and social change: an isonymic study of a French Peasant Population, 1870–1979
Authors: Crognier E.
Published: July 2008

The evolution of the inbreeding coefficient estimated by the isonymic method is studied in a rural canton of mid-France, using data divided into 10-year intervals of 6277 marriages recorded in the civil registers between 1870 and 1979. The results show a strong diminution of the values of F from 1930 onwards, probably related to the drop in population due to exodus from rural areas. The evolution of the inbreeding coefficient observed in three large occupational groups (farmers, craftsmen and labourers) shows that after 1930 it was only the farmers who maintained the low positive values of F. The coefficient of genetic relationships by isonymy (Ri) calculated among the principal occupational groups shows their community of origin, which is still perceptible today.
Factors related to delay for legal abortions performed at a gestational age of 20 weeks or more
Authors: Joseph Carol
Published: July 2008

Between 1981 and 1982 the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists undertook a national survey of late abortion practice in England and Wales. The study was based on a confidential enquiry, specifically authorized by the Chief Medical Officers of the DHSS and the Welsh Office, which used the notification system as the means of identifying cases. All abortions notified as carried out at 20 weeks gestational age or more were selected during the year, together with varying proportions of cases from other gestational groups. Data on avoidable and unavoidable causes of delay were obtained by questionnaire from notifying doctors, and a comparison was made of the subjectively attributed delay with any that was found through objective measures derived from both questionnaire and notification data. This paper presents results on delay associated specifically with abortions carried out at a gestational age of 20 weeks or more to residents of the United Kingdom only.
Marriage pattern of the Korean population in Japan
Authors: Kim Yoon Shin
Published: July 2008

The trends of intermarriage, and the attitude to it, of Koreans in Japan were examined. About 47% of total marriages of Koreans during the period 1965–79 comprised a husband and wife of different nationality. The proportion of Korean–Japanese marriages was higher than that of Korean–Korean marriages in recent years. Attitudes of Koreans in Japan are likely to favour intermarriage with Japanese. The results suggest that mixed marriages of Koreans and Japanese will continue to increase and may influence the future fertility of Koreans in Japan.
Enivironmental and other factors influencing fertility in Sri Lanka
Authors: Fernando Dallas F. S.
Published: July 2008

The paper explores factors that influence fertility levels in Sri Lanka. It shows that three environmental variables and two socioeconomic variables explain 76–4% of the variance among districts.
Correlates and implications of breast-feeding practices in Bas Zaire
Authors: Mock Nancy Beth , Bertrand Jane T. , Mangani Nlandu
Published: July 2008

A sample of 1871 women having a child under 3 years old in Bas Zaire was studied to determine the correlates of breast-feeding practices and to examine the interrelationships among breast-feeding, contraceptive practices and desire for pregnancy. Socioeconomic factors that were related to the length of breast-feeding include economic status, maternal education, migration status, urban residence, pregnancy and sex of the index child. Among non-pregnant women, current desire for pregnancy also was related to breast-feeding status when the length of time since birth of the last child was taken into account. Rural women were reportedly ready for another pregnancy sooner after the birth of their last child than were urban women. On the other hand, urban women were much less likely to be practising traditional abstinence or other effective methods of contraception.
Estimates of fertility and infant and child mortality for Lae urban area of Papua New Guinea: a comparative analysis
Authors: Agyei William K. A.
Published: July 2008

Data collected on fertility, mortality and family planning in two surveys in Papua New Guinea are presented. The first survey was conducted in rural and urban areas between November 1979 and March 1980 in eight provinces of Papua New Guinea, and the second between late June and early July 1981 in the Lae urban area. The unadjusted total fertility rates suggest that fertility is lower in the Lae urban area than in the rural and provincial urban areas. However, the adjusted rates indicate that fertility is higher in the provincial urban areas than in the rural and Lae urban areas. The results also confirm a trend towards lower infant and child mortality over the past 15 years, as well as the existence of moderate differentials between rural, provincial urban and the Lae urban areas.
The determinants of fertility in rural Egypt: a study of Menoufia and Beni-Suef governorates
Authors: Gadalla Saad , McCarthy James , Kak Neeraj
Published: July 2008

High levels of fertility in rural areas of many developing societies are an issue of considerable concern to the scientific community and to those interested in public policy. This paper reports on the determinants of fertility in two rural areas in Egypt: Menoufia and Beni-Suef governorates. There are important differences in fertility between the two areas; the total fertility rate is 7·88 in Beni-Suef and 6·03 in Menoufia. These aggregate differences are the result of even larger differences between the two areas in the proximate determinants of fertility, particularly age at marriage, breast-feeding and contraceptive use. Much of the difference in breast-feeding behaviour can be explained by differences in the educational composition of the two populations; the level of female education in Menoufia is considerably higher than in Beni-Suef. However, differences in contraceptive use cannot be explained by differences in the socioeconomic composition of the two populations. The differences may be the result of greater institutional support for contraceptive use and lower fertility in Menoufia, where intensive family planning and maternal health programmes have been in operation for several years.
Divorce in the early years of marriage in England and Wales: results from a prospective study using linked records
Authors: Haskey John C.
Published: July 2008

A representative sample of over one thousand couples who married during 1979 in England and Wales was followed from the date of marriage until mid-1984 to investigate the characteristics of couples who divorce soon after marriage.

Couples who apparently lived together before marriage had a below average chance of early divorce, whereas couples where the addresses of the partners before marriage were very close had a significantly high rate of early breakdown. The chance of early divorce was significantly above average for spouses marrying in their teens and for both husbands and wives who, at their marriage, belonged to social class V. Couples who married with a civil ceremony had an above average (and those marrying with a religious ceremony a below average) risk of early divorce, but such differences were found to be negligible on analysing the results from a matched case-control study in which each ‘case’ marriage (one which ended in early divorce) was matched with a ‘control’ marriage (one which did not end in early divorce). Age at marriage, marital status before marriage and the social class of both partners, the factors controlled for in the case-control study, are likely to be amongst the strongest predictors of early divorce.
Continuing fertility transitions in a plural society: ethnic trends and differentials in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Lim Lin Lean , Jones Gavin W. , Hirschman Charles
Published: July 2008

Fertility in Peninsular Malaysia has declined continuously from the late 1950s, reaching a TFR of 3735 in 1983. All ethnic groups in Malaysia have contributed to this modern demographic transition but the rate of change has been most rapid for Chinese and Indians, Malay fertility having reached a plateau in the early 1980s. The effect of age structure, marital patterns and marital fertility (by parity) on the fertility declines for each ethnic community are analysed. Continuation of current trends would lead to replacement-level fertility for Malaysian Chinese and Indians by the year 2000. Malay fertility is likely to continue to decline but at a more moderate pace.
Reproduction: the Canadian family in transition
Authors: Ram Bali
Published: July 2008

Three trends suggest that the reproductive function of the Canadian family is in transition. First, fertility has fallen and remained below the replacement level. Secondly, an increasing proportion of women are spending a larger part of their lives without having any children. Finally, an increasing proportion of women are having children without getting married.
Maternal factors and infant and child mortality in Bangladesh
Authors: Majumder Abul Kashem
Published: July 2008

Multivariate analysis of the effects of maternal age at birth, birth order and the preceding birth interval on mortality risks in early childhood, using data from the Bangladesh Fertility Survey, 1975–76, confirms that the length of the preceding birth interval is the most influential single factor. But the lower mortality risks among infants and children of educated mothers are due neither to the age at which childbearing was initiated nor to the spacing between births.
Breast-feeding and post-partum amenorrhoea in Indonesia
Authors: Jones Robert E.
Published: July 2008

The association between breast-feeding patterns and resumption of menses post-partum was examined in a prospective study in Indonesia. In order to examine these relationships directly in a longitudinal study, it was first necessary to distinguish among women who experienced infant mortality before menses resumed, women who weaned before menses resumed, and women who had return to menses while breast-feeding.

Information on suckling patterns and menstrual status was collected by recall for 444 women at monthly visits for 2 years. Three main breast-feeding variables, minutes per episode, number of episodes per day, number of episodes per night, and other breast-feeding variables were derived for each woman, to give the average nursing pattern up to menses or the end of the study, whichever came first. While high levels of nursing for each of these three main variables were found to be significantly related to delay in return of menses post-partum, the interactions between more minutes per episode, and more frequent day- and night-time feeds, were found to be the most important factors in the delay in onset of post-partum menstruation in those women whose menses resumed while still nursing or who remained amenorrhoeic and nursing at the end of the study.
Polygamy and fertility in Somalia
Authors: Johnson Nan E. , Elmi A. M.
Published: July 2008

The 1983 Somali Family Health Survey showed that polygamy and monogamy selected women with different social characteristics. Wives in polygamous unions were prone to be younger at first marital cohabitation and to have previous marital disruptions. Since a young age at first cohabitation and number of previous marriages have opposite effects on the cumulative fertility rate of women, the difference in this rate between wives in polygamous and monogamous unions vanished when both factors were controlled in a multivariate analysis.
Consanguinity in the Archbishopric of Toledo, Spain, 1900–79. I. Types of consanguineous mating in relation to premarital migration and its effects on inbreeding Levels
Authors: Calderon R.
Published: July 2008

This Study, the first of a series on consanguinity in the Archbishopric of Toledo from 1900 to 1979, analyses in detail the types of consanguineous mating in a population of considerable size, some 650,000 persons, in central spain. during the period covered, very important transformations occurred in Spanish society. The data relate to 21,464 consanguineous marriages. They were divided into two groups, according to the premarital migration of the couple. Significant differences in the frequencies of the types of consanguineous matings, and their secular evolution, are found for the two groups. The expected trend in inbreeding in the total area shows two different tendencies: constancy till the end of the 1950s, followed by a fast decline during the last two decades.