bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marriage trends in the Italo-Greeks of Italy
Authors: Biondi G. , Perrotti E.
Published: July 2008

The Italo-Greek ethnolinguistic minority, living in thirteen villages of southern Italy, marry largely amongst themselves but there are some intermarriages with native Italians. The majority of marriages are within the villages, but there is some marriage movement from one Italo-Greek village to another. Data on marriage and birthplace of parents and grandparents obtained by questionnaires to families of primary school children (aged 6–13 years) are analysed, to show the trends in breakdown of isolation over the last two generations.
Adult mortality from information on orphanhood and widowhood among the Kanuri of Nigeria
Authors: Udjo E. O.
Published: July 2008

Although demographic information on Nigeria has increased in the past two decades, information on adult mortality in the country is still sparse. This paper provides information on the levels and trends in male and female adult mortality among the Kanuri of north-east Nigeria. Analysis of reports of orphanhood and widowhood suggests moderately high levels of mortality.
Intention versus behaviour in parental sex preferences among the Mukogodo of Kenya
Authors: Cronk Lee
Published: July 2008

The relationship between parents' stated sex preferences for children and actual parental behaviour towards sons and daughters is examined among the Mukogodo, a group of traditional pastoralists in rural Kenya. Although their cultural values are male-centred and they tend to express a preference for sons, Mukogodo parents actually appear to be more solicitous of daughters, and the Mukogodo have a strongly female-biased childhood sex ratio. Studies of stated sex preferences should therefore be coupled with attempts to assess actual parental investment in sons and daughters.
Relationships among given names in the Scilly Isles
Authors: Raspe Pamela , Lasker Gabriel
Published: July 2008

The pseudo-genetic analysis of given names shows that, in the Scilly Isles, coefficients of relationship of first names are similar on St Mary's, the Outer Isles, and in the total sample of 5666 individuals married there in two and a half centuries. Comparable coefficients of relationship of a sample of 1658 given names in marriages in England and Wales in 1975 are considerably smaller, but similar within and between districts. The coefficients of relationship of given names on the Scilly Isles decreased during the 19th and especially the 20th centuries in parallel with decreases in random relationship from surnames. The genetic versus cultural–linguistic factors cannot be distinguished in the temporal variation in names, but the geographic differentiation virtually always reported in surnames is not present in these examples of given names and the geographic pattern in the surnames thus seems to result from the hereditary aspect of surnames. This result supports the validity of use of surnames in models of human genetic geography.
Parental education and child mortality in Burundi
Authors: O'Toole Josephine , Wright Robert E.
Published: July 2008

This paper examines the relationship between parental education and child mortality in Burundi using data collected in the 1987 Demographic and Health Survey. Proportional hazards models are estimated to examine this relationship, while holding constant other known child mortality determinants. Parental education proves to be a key factor in explaining differences in child mortality, the effect of maternal education being particularly strong compared to paternal education.
Marital mobility within Shahrestan Nowshahr, Northern Iran
Authors: Mehrai Haideh , Sunderland Eric
Published: July 2008

Birth localities of spouses from two generations are examined, to assess the extent to which the observed patterns of marital mobility link the spatially separated and kin-structured sub-populations within the ‘shahrestan’ of Nowshahr. The results indicate localised marriages and short range movements from the village of birth in both generations. Temporal increase in the range of movement indicates the breaking down of isolation, thus providing greater possibilities for admixture and genetic homogeneity.
Abortion in South Australia, 1971–86: an update
Authors: Yusuf Farhat , Briggs Dora
Published: July 2008

Official statistics on abortion in South Australia for the period 1971–86 are analysed in terms of incidence, age of patients and nuptiality, reasons for abortion, method of termination, period of gestation, previous abortions and concurrent sterilisation. Demographic implications are discussed and recommendations are made for more education and counselling, especially for younger and unmarried women for whom the incidence of abortion seems to be rising.
Reaction times and intelligence: a comparison of Japanese and British children
Authors: Lynn Richard , Shigehisa T.
Published: July 2008

Japanese and British 9-year-old children were compared on the standard progressive matrices and twelve reaction time parameters providing measures of simple and complex decision times, movement times and variabilities. The mean of the Japanese children on the progressive matrices exceeded that of the British children by 0·65 SD units and on the decision times component of reaction times by 0·50 SD units, suggesting that the high Japanese mean on psychometric intelligence is largely explicable in terms of the more efficient processing of information at the neurological level. Japanese children also showed faster movement times but, contrary to expectation, had greater variabilities than British children.
Effect of education and household characteristics on infant and child mortality in urban Nepal
Authors: Pant Prakash Dev
Published: July 2008

Infant and child mortality differentials are analysed by education of parents and other family members, access to toilet, electricity and source of drinking water in urban Nepal, using data from the Nepal Fertility and Family Planning Survey, 1986. The analyses showed significant effects of education, access to toilet and electricity in lowering infant and child mortality. Access to toilet and electricity are proxies for house-hold socioeconomic status which suggests that education and household resources are complementary in lowering the infant and child mortality.
Matriarchy, polyandry, and fertility amongst the Mosuos in China
Authors: Johnson Nan E. , Zhang Kai-Ti
Published: July 2008

A survey of 232 households of the Mosuo minority group in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, suggested that polyandrous matriarchy did not raise the birth rate per household, but lowered the community birth rate by restricting many women's chances of marrying. The results imply that tolerance by the national government of polyandry within certain minority groups (e.g. Mosuos and Tibetans) will not prevent but may aid the attainment of zero population growth by China in the twenty-first century.
Determinants of child-bearing intentions of low-income women: attitudes versus life circumstances
Authors: Radecki Stephen E. , Beckman Linda J.
Published: July 2008

Surveys of low-income women in Los Angeles County in 1985 and 1986 were used to examine the relative impact of child-bearing motivations versus life circumstances on the intention to have a(nother) child. Future child-bearing intentions are strongly related to current parity level regardless of marital status, race/ethnicity or economic status. Psychological motivating factors predict child-bearing intentions of nulliparous women, but not those of parous women. Multivariate analyses showed that motivation for parenthood and life circumstances combined predicted women's child-bearing intentions 88·6% of the time for nulliparous women, but 73·7% for parous women. These findings suggest that, in a low-income population, the onset of parenthood reduces the relationship between specific motivations for child-bearing and actual child-bearing intentions, and diminishes the ability to predict child-bearing intentions based on both attitudinal and social/structural factors.
Immunisation coverage in Lusaka, Zambia; implications of the social setting
Authors: Pillai Vijayan K. , Conaway Mark
Published: July 2008

This paper develops a conceptual framework for examining the process of immunisation and explores the sociodemographic determinants of vaccination in Zambia. About 300 mothers with children under 3 years of age were interviewed in urban Lusaka. The analyses suggest that sociostructural, as well as cultural, processes influence the attrition process and immunisation programmes should focus on the uniqueness of each stage. In addition, programmes to improve women's education and to reduce male gender preferences are needed.
Determinants of contraceptive continuation in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Akhter Halida H. , Ahmed Saifuddin
Published: July 2008

A contraceptive study of rural Bangladeshi women indicated that the previous death of children, number of living children, desire for additional children and son preference were important determinants of contraceptive continuation. The importance of these factors varies to some extent with use of different contraceptive methods.
Maternal body composition: methods for measuring short-term changes
Authors: Norgan N. G.
Published: July 2008

The measurement of short-term changes in maternal body composition during the post-partum period under field conditions poses many problems: (1) body composition techniques depend on the constancy of the proportions of components or their physical properties and are less suitable for measuring changes; (2) many of the techniques require expensive, technically sophisticated apparatus that is inappropriate to field conditions in many countries; (3) changes in body composition affect some areas of the body more than others so regional as well as whole body approaches are required. The measurements of body weight, triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses and upper arm circumference are essential measurements. These can be supplemented with further skinfold thicknesses and circumferences, and possibly body density and body water measurements. There is little to be gained by transforming anthropometric variables into whole body composition indices in these circumstances.
Some determinants of population variation in cortisol levels in a British urban community
Authors: Pollard Tessa , Ungpakorn Giles , Harrison G. Ainsworth
Published: July 2008

Urinary cortisol excretion rates were determined from three urine samples given over 2 days, a rest day and a working day, by 51 men and 50 women. Each subject also completed a questionnaire relating to life style factors and to perceived levels of stress, busyness and happiness on each day. In men, an association between raised cortisol and high levels of stress was found. In women, high levels of busyness were associated with low cortisol excretion rates. The subjective experiences measured accounted for around 10–20% of cortisol variation in this naturalistic setting.
Geographical distribution of some Danish surnames: reflections of social and natural selection
Authors: Boldsen Jesper L.
Published: July 2008

Geographical differences in the frequencies of eight common surnames in Jutland (Denmark) are analysed using data from telephone directories of 121 exchanges. All the names showed a significant geographical surplus variance, which was divided into trend and patchiness components reflecting the history of the names. The surplus variance of surnames with restricted areas of origin was dominated by a large trend component; for surnames with an originally more even distribution, the patchiness component was dominant. The patterns of distribution were affected by processes which modelled natural selection with linkage disequilibrium. The combined patchiness within the clusters of exchanges gave information about patterns of local migration and level of social integration in the communities. Areas situated in boundary regions show high levels of patchiness.
Prevalence and determinants of caesarean section in Jamaica
Authors: Webster Linda A. , Daling Janet R. , McFarlane Carmen , Ashley Deanna , Warren Charles W.
Published: July 2008

The prevalence and determinants of primary caesarean section in Jamaica were estimated from a survey of women aged 14–49 years. Among 2328 women reporting 2395 live hospital births during the period January 1984 to May 1989, the prevalence of caesarean section was 4·1%. Repeat caesarean sections accounted for 1·3% of the hospital births during that period. Of the medical complications studied, prolonged labour and/or cephalopelvic disproportion carried the highest risks of primary caesarean section, followed by breech presentation, maternal diabetes, a high birth-weight baby, maternal hypertension, and a low birth-weight baby. The risk of primary caesarean section increased with maternal age, decreased with parity, was higher for urban than for rural residents, and was higher for births in private versus government hospitals.
Postpartum tubal sterilisation: an international perspective on some programmatic issues
Authors: Chi I-Cheng , Thapa Shyam
Published: July 2008

The demand for postpartum sterilisation (performed within 42 days after delivery), is increasing both in developed and developing countries. The incidence of regret after postpartum sterilisation is important, but it could be minimised by carefully screening risk factors. Using trained paramedical personnel to perform postpartum sterilisation via minilaparotomy where physicians are in short supply appears to be safe and acceptable, under close medical supervision. Including postpartum sterilisation information in the antenatal counselling services effectively strengthens postpartum services and simultaneously helps to minimise subsequent regret.
Determinants of low birthweight: a comparative study
Authors: Defo Barthelemy Kuate , Partin Melissa
Published: July 2008

The study compares biological, socioeconomic and behavioural determinants of low birthweight in Cameroon and the United States. Some factors in low birthweight are found to be cross-national, but others are specific to the setting. Positive risk factors of low birthweight in both countries include unmarried motherhood, female sex, multiple births, and preterm births. Outcome of the previous pregnancy is a positive risk factor in the US, but not in Cameroon. Significant negative risk factors include prenatal care visits (in both countries), mother's education (in the US only), births to mothers aged 20–34 and birth orders of 2 or more (in Cameroon only). Separate analyses of all births and the subsamples of singleton births reveal that estimates for the two groups differ only marginally.
Determinants of coitus after childbirth
Authors: Udry J. Richard , Deang Lionel
Published: July 2008

Using a sample of 3080 women from Cebu, Philippines, interviewed immediately after childbirth and every 2 months thereafter for 2 years, the determinants of return to coitus are analysed. Eighty percent of the women returned to coitus before the return of menses, and 90% did so before stopping breast-feeding. In hazards models, variables associated with traditional life styles retarded return to coitus. Situational variables (husband resident, crowding, children aged 6 and under), especially husband residence, and biological variables (mother's age, return to menses, and lactation) were significant predictors of return to coitus. The implications of the analysis for the construction of models of birth interval dynamics are discussed.
Emerging patterns of child-spacing in Canada
Authors: Rahim A. , Ram B.
Published: July 2008

This study used data from the 1984 Family History Survey conducted by Statistics Canada to examine recent trends and patterns of child-spacing among currently married women. Life table and proportional hazards estimates show that Canadian women, particularly those in younger age groups with higher education and longer work experience, start having children late, but have subsequent children rather quickly. This suggests that such women tend to complete childbearing within a compressed time period.
Breast-feeding and child health in the United States
Authors: Ford Kathleen , Labbok Miriam
Published: July 2008

This paper evaluates the influence of breast-feeding on infectious and allergic diseases in infants and children through an analysis of data from a large national sample of US children. It controls for a large number of maternal and child health, demographic, and socioeconomic variables which have been shown to affect feeding patterns, and it includes several aspects of the feeding pattern in addition to breast-feeding. The results suggest that breast-feeding provides some protection against pneumonia and otitis media in the United States while early introduction of formula may have a separate and negative effect.
Breast-feeding, water and sanitation, and childhood malnutrition in the Philippines
Authors: Magnani Robert J. , Mock Nancy B. , Bertrand William E. , Clay Daniel C.
Published: July 2008

This study examines effects and interactions of socioeconomic status, access to water supply and sanitation, and breast-feeding practices in relation to child growth in two provincial cities in the Philippines. Multivariate analysis identified food expenditure per head, education of the household head and gender of the child as significant predictors of nutritional status. The duration of partial and full breast-feeding was negatively (though non-significantly) associated with growth. Sanitation facilities and breast-feeding are, however, important determinants during the first year of life. Among children over 1 year of age, socioeconomic variables and gender are the most important predictors. Breast-feeding is shown to provide more important health benefits for children in lower income households. The need for further studies on the causes of gender differences in nutritional status was apparent.
Gender of children and contraceptive use
Authors: Krishnan Vijaya
Published: July 2008

In 1984, half of married/cohabiting Canadian women aged 18–49 years were using contraception, with sterilisation being the most prevalent method. This study, using data from the 1984 Canadian Fertility Survey of 5315 women aged 18–49 years, found that there was a preference for sons. Women with two sons are more likely to use contraception than those who have had two daughters; the gender of children may have a weak effect on contraceptive behaviour of Canadian couples at higher parities. Sociocultural factors (e.g. education, religion, religiosity) were also found to influence contraceptive behaviour.
Socioeconomic and environmental determinants of child survival in Bangladesh
Authors: Majumder Abul Kashem , Islam S. M. Shafiqul
Published: July 2008

Differentials in child survival in Bangladesh have been examined using a number of socioeconomic and environmental factors on data from the 1989 Bangladesh Fertility Survey. Multivariate analysis reveals that both wife's and husband's education and household electricity show a significant positive association with child survival. The respondent's working status exerts a significant negative influence. Wife's education has a greater influence on child survival in Bangladesh than that of husband's education.
Paediatric care and immunisation among Jordanian children
Authors: Obermeyer Carla Makhlouf , Deykin Eva , Potter Joseph
Published: July 2008

This paper investigates the behavioural aspects of health care use for Jordanian children from birth to 3 years using data from a national survey. Statistical analysis indicate differences in the determinants of the use of paediatric care and immunisation: whereas immunisation coverage was already good in 1983 (and has improved subsequently), paediatric care is used for fewer than half of the children under 1 year of age. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the population, especially female education, and maternal health care use, are important determinants of these patterns of child health care. The absence of differences in paediatric care and immunisation by sex of the child are discussed.
Regional mortality differences in Britain, 1931–87: a two dimensional analysis
Authors: Anson Jon
Published: July 2008

In a recent analysis, Illsley, Le Grand & Mullings argued that, over the years 1931–87, regional inequalities in mortality in Britain effectively disappeared for most age groups. The present study reanalyses their data, breaking regional life tables down into their two major components, the level of survivorship, and the shape of the mortality curve. It is shown that whereas there has been a consistent decline in regional inequalities in the level of mortality, there has not been a comparable convergence in the shape of the mortality curves. These shape differences, implaying premature adult mortality, are now the major source of variation among the regions.
Reaction times and intelligence: a comparison of Chinese-American and Anglo-American children
Authors: Jensen Arthur R. , Whang Patricia A.
Published: July 2008

Chinese-American and Anglo-American school children were compared on a nonverbal test of intelligence (Raven's Progressive Matrices) and on twelve chronometric variables which measure the speed with which basic information processes (e.g. stimulus apprehension, decision, and discrimination) can be carried out. All of these tasks are correlated with psychometric intelligence. The two groups differed significantly on most of the variables, but the differences appear to be multidimensional and are not simply due to a group difference in psychometric intelligence, equivalent to about 5 IQ points in favour of the Chinese-Americans. The results are compared with those of Lynn and his colleagues on British, Japanese, and Hong Kong children, and both consistencies and inconsistencies are found.
Biology and social structure
Authors: Olivier G. , Devigne G.
Published: July 2008

At military recruitment centres in France, data were collected from some 40,000 subjects on their social environment, the amount of education received and occupation, and measurements were taken on height, weight, and performance in tests of mental and physical ability.

The secular increase in mean stature is continuing. Offspring of consanguineous unions are of lower mean stature and mental capacity, and it seems that the effect is most marked among those already below average. There is an independent effect of endogamy, but the effect of heterosis seems to be less than previously thought. Family size and composition affect stature, weight and mental capacity, and this effect is independent of socio-professional status.
Attitude of Ntomba society towards the primiparous woman and its biological effects
Authors: Pagezy Helene
Published: July 2008

In the Ntomba of Zaire, observation on weaning patterns shows that the young primipara receives special attention in terms of nutrition and expected activities. Anthropometric examination shows that there is a pronounced effect on physique, the resulting accumulation of fat providing a buffer against seasonal variation in food availability, and allowing her to meet the high energy cost of nursing. The biological effects of these cultural practices suggest that they should be regarded as adaptive.
Fertility of islanders off the northern coast of Sri Lanka
Authors: Fernando Dallas F.S.
Published: July 2008

This paper explores factors affecting the fertility of islanders off the north coast of Sri Lanka, the centre of concentration of the Sri Lanka Tamils. The variables contributing most to the fertility variation among Grama Sevaka divisions, are the proportions of elderly in the population, of females employed to total employed, and of females aged 5–14 attending school. Overall, however, only 43% of the total fertility variation is explained, considerably less than in other Sri Lanka areas studied.
Birthweight and reproductive careers
Authors: Carr-Hill R. , Samphier M.
Published: July 2008

It is generally thought that birthweight varies with the sex of the infant, gestational age and parity; there is, however, some controversy as to whether birthweight increases monotonically with parity. Further, some have suggested that maternal height and social class are also important, whilst earlier authors stressed the importance of genetic factors. This paper re-examines these relationships on the basis of an analysis of data on 6472 women who had a sequence of two or more singleton live births. The analysis shows first that the raw birthweights increase up to the fourth birth and that there are strong correlations between successive birthweights. However, when the birthweights are standardized for gestational age, maternal height, parity and sex, the relation between birthweight and parity almost disappears. On the other hand, the correlations between successive birthweights remain among the standardized scores, suggesting that there are other features specific to the mother which affect birthweight.
The contribution of genetic disease to paediatric mortality in a university hospital in bogota
Authors: Bernal J. E. , Ortega G. , Umana A.
Published: July 2008

The records of 15 years of paediatric necropsies in the Department of Pathology of the Hospital San Ignacio in Bogota were reviewed and the results classified according to the various types of genetic pathology. It is shown that out of 1463 paediatric necropsies, 377 (25·8%) had either a congenital defect or a disease considered as genetic to some extent. Simple Mendelian diseases and chromosomal disorders account together for more than 5% of the total deaths. When the pathologies with a complex genetic contribution to the aetiology are also taken into account, the figure rises to more than 20%. Overall, the study shows that the burden of genetic pathology is also important in countries, like Colombia, where other causes of death have traditionally been the main concern of public health measures.
Educational attainment and social class in adoptees: genetic and environmental contributions
Authors: Teasdale T. W. , Sørensen T. I. A.
Published: July 2008

The number of years of schooling and adult social class of 1417 adoptees are found to correlate with the social class of both their biological and adoptive fathers. For female adoptees the effect of both paternal social class values upon own social class appears to be mediated through the influence of the former upon years of schooling. For male adoptees, some residual direct correlations of paternal social class with offspring's social class, independent of years of schooling in the adoptee, are observed.
Postpartum amenorrhoea and breast-feeding in a Danish sample
Authors: Vestermark Vibeke , Høgdall Claus K. , Plenov Grete , Birch Mikael
Published: July 2008

The duration of postpartum amenorrhoea was studied in a danish sample of 361 women. The median duration of amenorrhoea was 17 weeks. The 25th and 75th percentiles were 10 and 30 weeks, respectively. A significant correlation was found between the duration of postpartum amenorrhoea and of breast-feeding. However, loctation for more than 9 months did not extend the duration of amenorrhoea. Menstruation before weaning occurred in 57% of the women, and 43% terminated breast-feeding before the first menstruation. Four weeks after weaning menstruation had returned in 79% and by 8 weeks after in 93% of the mothers. At 6 months postpartum, frequency of breast-feeding, and of night-time feeding were determinants of amenorrhoea.
Comparison of effects of breast-feeding practices on birth-spacing in three societies: nomadic Turkana, Gainj, and Quechua
Authors: Gray Sandra J.
Published: July 2008

Variation in the duration and pattern of breast-feeding contributes significantly to inter-population differences in fertility. In this paper, measures of suckling frequency and intensity are used to compare the effects of breastfeeding practices on the duration of lactational amenorrhoea, and on the length of the birth interval in three prospective studies undertaken during the 1980s, among Quechua Indians of Peru, Turkana nomads of Kenya, and Gainj of Papua New Guinea.

In all three societies, lactation is prolonged well into the second year postpartum, and frequent, on-demand breast-feeding is the norm. However, the duration of lactational amenorrhoea and the length of birth intervals vary considerably. Breast-feeding patterns among Gainj and Turkana are similar, but Turkana women resume menses some 3 months earlier than do the Gainj. The average birth interval among the Gainj exceeds that of nomadic Turkana by over 15 months. Suckling activity decreases significantly with increasing age of nurslings among both Gainj and Quechua, but not among Turkana. Earlier resumption of menses among Turkana women may be linked to the unpredictable demands of the pastoral system, which increase day-to-day variation in the number of periods of on-demand breast-feeding, although not in suckling patterns. This effect is independent of the age of infants.

The short birth intervals of Turkana women, relative to those of the Gainj, may be related to early supplementation of Turkana nurslings with butterfat and animals' milk, which reduces energetic demands on lactating women at risk of negative energy balance.
Consanguineous marriage within social/occupational class boundaries in Pakistan
Authors: Shami Sajjad A. , Grant Jonathan C. , Bittles Alan H.
Published: July 2008

Data on patterns of consanguineous marriage were collected from 5340 families resident in eight cities in the Pakistan province of Punjab. To assess whether social and/or occupational class was interacting with con-sanguinity, information also was obtained on the hereditaryqaumto which each family belonged. In the present generation 46·5% of all marriages were contracted at the level of second cousin or closer, with an average coefficient of inbreeding (F) of 0·0286, and the results indicated that in each of the seventeenqaumsthere was strong preference for marriage to a close biological relative. However, significant differences existed in the distribution of consanguineous marriage byqaummembership, which could interfere with the interpretation of studies into the biological effects of inbreeding.
The Turlock vitamin–mineral supplementation trial: a statistical reanalysis
Authors: Peritz Eric
Published: July 2008

A new analysis of a randomised double-blind trial confirms the fact that vitamin–mineral supplementation has a statistically significant effect on non-verbal IQ as measured by the WISC-R test. Further studies may show if this effect is large enough to be of practical importance.
A survey of Papua New Guinean parturients at the Port Moresby General Hospital: sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics
Authors: Klufio Cecil A. , Amoa Apeawusu B. , Kariwiga Grace
Published: July 2008

A survey of 673 consecutive Papua New Guinea parturients carried out at the Port Moresby General Hospital between May and June 1990 showed that socioeconomic and educational factors played a part in predicting perinatal death. Mothers who have previously experienced a perinatal death are more likely to experience a second one.
Intercorrelations between menstrual cycle patterns and body dimensions in Austrian women
Authors: Kirchengast Sylvia
Published: July 2008

The relationships between 29 cephalic and post-cephalic body dimensions and the length and regularity of the menstrual cycle, as well as the duration of menstrual bleeding, have been investigated in 327 Austrian women. Five of the eight head measurements and seventeen of the 21 body measurements correlated statistically significantly with the individual menstrual variables. Measures of facial and post-cephalic robustness and the amount of subcutaneous fat tissue correlated negatively with the length of cycle, as well as with the difference between minimum and maximum cycle length, a measure of the cycle regularity. The post-cephalic height and length dimensions correlated significantly positively with bleeding duration. The results indicated a marked influence of body type, especially the amount of subcutaneous fat, on the length and regularity of the menstrual cycle.
Testosterone and religiosity as predictors of sexual attitudes and activity among adolescent males: a biosocial model
Authors: Halpern Carolyn Tucker , Udry J. Richard , Campbell Benjamin , Suchindran Chirayath , Mason George A.
Published: July 2008

A biosocial model of the effects of early adolescent testosterone levels and religiosity on adolescent males' sexual attitudes and activity over a 3-year period was examined. Using panel data for approximately 100 boys who were 12·5/13·0 years old at study entry, significant additive effects of free testosterone and frequency of attendance at religious services were demonstrated on the transition to first intercourse and other aspects of sexual behaviour and attitudes. No interactive effects of the two predictors were found. Boys with higher free testosterone levels at study entry who never or infrequently attended religious services were the most sexually active and had the most permissive attitudes. Boys with lower free testosterone who attended services once a week or more were the least active and reported the least permissive attitudes. For some behaviours, differences between free testosterone/attendance groups increased over time, resulting in substantial behavioural differences by the final round of measurement 3 years later.
Prostatic cancer, coital rates, vasectomy and testosterone
Authors: James William H.
Published: July 2008

It is usually supposed that androgens play a major role in the aetiology of prostatic cancer. This note suggests that the association of the disease with low (as well as high) coital rates and its apparent association with vasectomy can both be reconciled with the hypothesised androgenic involvement.
Genetic similarity and mate selection in Uruguay
Authors: Sans M. , Alvarez I. , Callegari-Jacques S. M. , Salzano F. M.
Published: July 2008

It has been suggested that average genetic similarity, as assessed by blood genetic markers, could influence mate choice in humans. In the present study, average genetic similarity was assessed in 183 couples submitting to paternity determinations in relation to six blood group systems and three HLA loci. Couples in which the putative father was excluded were compared with those in which such exclusion did not occur, and real couples were compared to random pairs. The differences were all statistically non-significant. Possible reasons for the different results found in the previous sample and in the present study are considered.
Education and assortative marriage in Northern and urban Sudan, 1945–79
Authors: Abdelrahman Abdelrahman Ibrahim
Published: July 2008

This study examines the extent of assortative mating for education in Northern Sudan and urban Khartoum. More males than females were found at higher levels of education. Increasingly, people tend to marry persons of equal educational level, but the unequal educational opportunities for males and females have led to the emergence of educational exogamy in which members of different educational levels are more likely to marry from the adjacent educational category than from distant categories. The increasing level of education for both sexes, and especially for females, may in part explain the rising trend in age at marriage.
The end of fertility: age, fecundity and fecundability in women
Authors: Frank Odile , Bianchi P. Grace , Campana Aldo
Published: July 2008

Onset of capacity for childbearing in women is dated biologically by menarche, although actual onset may be delayed. The end of childbearing is less understood but recent demographic and biological research on fertility at older ages is clarifying the end of fertility.

The demographic view of declining fertility with age is based on age-specific fertility in natural fertility populations, artificial insemination and pregnancy rates by age and World Fertility Survey data. New data from the Demographic and Health Surveys on exposure to the risk of pregnancy shows that whereas older women biologically need longer exposure to pregnancy, exposure declines on behavioural grounds such as duration of marriage. Actual fecundity is obscured by factors of fecundability. Recent research on medically assisted conception is adding to the understanding of declining fecundity with age, especially the relative contributions of endometrial and ovarian ageing.

This paper reviews the available information on declining fertility with age and discusses the implications of the extension of fertility through new medical technologies.
Sex preference and third birth intervals in a traditional Indian society
Authors: Nath Dilip C. , Land Kenneth C.
Published: July 2008

The traditional preference for sons may be the main hindrance to India's current population policy of two children per family. In this study, the effects of various sociodemographic covariates, particularly sex preference, on the length of the third birth interval are examined for the scheduled caste population in Assam, India. Life table and hazards regression techniques are applied to retrospective sample data. The analysis shows that couples having two surviving sons are less likely to have a third child than those without a surviving son and those with only one surviving son. Age at first marriage, length of preceding birth intervals, age of mother, and household income have strong effects on the length of the third birth interval.
Some correlates of child mortality in the refugee populated regions in Tanzania
Authors: Mbago Maurice C. Y.
Published: July 2008

Data from the 1988 Tanzania census were used to examine child mortality in three regions populated with Burundi refugees. Logistic and least squares analyses show that for both Tanzanian nationals and refugees low levels of maternal education are associated with high child mortality levels. Children born to mothers who are housewives are associated with low levels of mortality compared to those born to employed mothers, though the results were not statistically significant for the refugees. Maternal demographic status, computed from age and parity, has a strong effect on child survival. Unexpectedly, child mortality was lower where the water source was a well outside the village. Tanzanian mothers who are at highest risk of childbearing are roughly 6·4 times more likely to have a child death than those at lowest risk; the corresponding figure for the refugees is 36·8. This emphasises the need to intensify family planning programmes in these regions.
Infant mortality in Nigeria: effects of place of birth, mother's education and region of residence
Authors: Adetunji Jacob Ayo
Published: July 2008

This paper examines the effects of a child's place of birth, mother's education, region of residence and rural and urban residence on infant mortality in Nigeria between 1965 and 1979, using data from the 1981/82 Nigeria Fertility Survey. Infant mortality rates declined in all regions between 1965 and 1979. Children born in modern health facilities, irrespective of their mothers' place of residence, experienced significantly lower rates of infant mortality than those born elsewhere. Logistic regression analysis showed that all other variables tested were also significant, although some to a lesser degree. Efforts to reduce infant mortality in Nigeria should include policies that rectify rural and urban differentials in the distribution of health facilities and encourage their use.
Age of mother at last birth in two historical populations
Authors: Desjardins Bertrand , Bideau Alain , Brunet Guy
Published: July 2008

This study uses sets of historical family reconstitutions from all of Quebec and from four villages of the Haut-Jura, France—first marriages of 2226 and 994 women, respectively—to investigate the physiological and social factors affecting age of mother at last birth before and during fertility transition. Age remained high throughout the period covered in Quebec, under ‘natural’ conditions, but showed a steady decline in the French material which extends to late 19th century generations practising family limitation.

Age at marriage had no influence in Quebec; in France, however, women with the most surviving children at age 35 continued childbearing the latest. There was no link between biological ability to achieve a live birth, or in health status or aging rhythm, and age at last birth. Behaviour of mothers and daughters showed no relation. The variability in age at last birth thus appears to be random under natural conditions; with the onset of controls, social differences seem to influence not only the end of childbearing, but all aspects of behaviour governing final family size and child survival.
The impact of husband's and wife's education and occupation on family size in Zimbabwe
Authors: Adamchak Donald J. , Mbizvo Michael T.
Published: July 2008

This paper assesses the impact of husband's and wife's education and occupation on family size in Zimbabwe. Results from the 1988 Male Fertility Survey indicate that husband's education had a strong negative effect, and wife's education had a moderate negative effect on the number of children ever born. Contrary to the literature, wives who were not employed had significantly fewer children than those who work in agriculture, and fewer, but not significantly, than those in non-agricultural occupations. Findings show the importance of husband's education and the changing dynamics of wife's occupation in fertility decline.
Effects of family sex composition on fertility preference and behaviour in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury A. I. , Bairagi Radheshyam , Koenig Michael A.
Published: July 2008

The effects of family sex composition on fertility preferences and behaviour during the period 1977–88 are examined using longitudinal data from Matlab, Bangladesh. The sex composition of living children was found to be systematically related to fertility preferences and behaviour, with a higher number of sons at each family size associated with a higher percentage of women wanting no more children, a higher percentage currently using contraception, and lower subsequent fertility. However, the highest percentage wanting no more children, using contraception and having lowest subsequent fertility was found among women who already had one daughter as well as at least one son. The effects of sex preference on fertility preferences and behaviour were measured using an index developed by Arnold (1985). The results suggest that while sex preference remained largely unchanged during the study period, its effect on contraceptive use declined and its impact on actual fertility remained modest and fairly stable.
Premature childbirth: social and behavioural risks in Singapore
Authors: Leong Wai Ping , Viegas O. A. C. , Ratnam S. S.
Published: July 2008

The associations of social and behavioural factors on preterm birth in Singapore were studied using hospital maternity records of 20,723 consecutive singleton births between January 1986 and November 1991. The overall proportion of preterm births was 3·6%, the rates for the Chinese, Malay and Indian groups being 3·2%, 3·8% and 4·9% respectively. Teenage mothers were at a higher risk of preterm labour compared to women aged 20–29 years. The incidence of preterm labour decreased with increasing educational status. Preterm births were six times more likely in women who had no antenatal care. Women who had three or more previous births were at a higher risk, while those who had one or two previous births were at a lower risk compared to women who had none.
The polygyny–fertility hypothesis revisited: the situation in Ghana
Authors: Sichona Francis J.
Published: July 2008

Re-examination of the polygyny–fertility hypothesis, by multiple regression analysis of the 1988 Ghana DHS data, reveals that polygyny has no effect on the number of children ever born; i.e. polygynously married women are as fertile as those monogamously married. Husband's age has no significant role in determining the number of children ever born to a woman.
Effect of son preference and population policy on sex ratios at birth in two provinces of China
Authors: Wen Xingyan
Published: July 2008

Two samples of births were used to examine the effect of son preference and population policy on sex ratios in Hebei and Shaanxi provinces of China. The results from all births to women aged 15–49 in the 1985 In-Depth Fertility Survey indicated a strong son preference but no clear policy impact on sex ratios at different birth orders. In a sample of selected births during 1975–84 to women aged 40 or under, the mixed influences of son preference and population policy were clearly reflected in the high and rising overall ratios at birth, and the increasing sex ratios with parity. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.
Marriage distances among the Afroamericans of Bluefields, Nicaragua
Authors: Biondi Gianfranco , Rickards Olga , Guglielmino Carmela R. , De Stefano Gian Franco
Published: July 2008

In a sample of 311 couples from the Afroamerican community of Bluefields, Eastern Nicaragua, the distribution of matrimonial distance shows a deviation from the leptokurtic rule. This results from assortative mating among the population.
Menarcheal age in University of Warwick young women
Authors: Dann T. C. , Roberts D. F.
Published: July 2008

Data from the final 16 years of a 28-year ongoing survey of menarcheal age are reported. From 1971 onwards, recalled aged at menarche was recorded for all young women entering the University of Warwick. These data show that mean menarcheal age is increasing, a trend which is independent of father's occupation, family size, position of girl in the family, and physique. This continues a similar upward tendency noted in a preceding study in Swansea. It appears that the downward trend to earlier age at menarche of the earlier decades of this century has been replaced by one in the opposite direction.
Consanguinity in north Jordan: prevalence and pattern
Authors: Al-Salem Mahmoud , Rawashdeh Nayel
Published: July 2008

The rate of consanguineous mating in north Jordan was 63·7% with an average inbreeding coefficient of 0·0283. First cousin marriages were the most predominant type (58·5%); villagers showed higher levels than city dwellers. The level of female education did not influence consanguinity rate.
Influence of socioeconomic factors on basic competencies of children in Bangladesh
Authors: Mohsin M. , Nath S. R. , Chowdhury A. M. R.
Published: July 2008

The effects of selected socioeconomic factors on basic competencies of children in Bangladesh were studied using primary data on 2520 children from all over the country. The residence of the child, years of schooling, parental education and economic status of the household were found to be important determinants of basic competencies of children.
Is fertility falling in Zimbabwe?
Authors: Udjo Eric O.
Published: July 2008

With an unequalled contraceptive prevalence rate in sub-Saharan Africa, of 43% among currently married women in Zimbabwe, the Central Statistical Office (1989) observed that fertility has declined sharply in recent years. Using data from several surveys on Zimbabwe, especially the birth histories of the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, this study examines fertility trends in Zimbabwe. The results show that the fertility decline in Zimbabwe is modest and that the decline is concentrated among high order births. Multivariate analysis did not show a statistically significant effect of contraception on fertility, partly because a high proportion of Zimbabwean women in the reproductive age group never use contraception due to prevailing pronatalist attitudes in the country.