bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High risk maternal factors related to retaled to fetel wastage in rural Banglandesh
Authors: Swenson Ingrid , Harper Paul A.
Published: July 2008

In rural Bangladesh, early fetal wastage and stillbirth are higher among pregnancy orders one and six or higher than among orders two and three. The increased risk is particularly apparent among those pregnancies following two or more previous fetal deaths. Woman in the higher pregnancy orders who have not experienced previous fetal deaths or only one fetal death have only a slight increase in the risk of fetal death compared to women in pregnancy orders two and three. The virtual absence of obstetric care and the high maternal mortality in this Bengali population may allow only woman without reproductive impairmetns to reach the higher pregnancy orders.
Family size, birth order and IQ components: a survey of a Cambridge suburb
Authors: Mascie-Taylor C. G. Nicholas
Published: July 2008

This study examines the relationship between family size, birth order and IQ components. No significant associations were found in either non-manual or manual social groups between IQ scores and family size. The correlation coefficient between verbal IQ and family size in the non-manual group was positive and differed significantly from the negative manual group value. Birth order effects were noted; the association differed significantly between non-manual IQ components and between social groups.
Household composition and the risk of child abuse and neglect
Authors: Wilson Margo I. , Daly Martin , Weghorst Suzanne J.
Published: July 2008

The incidence of child abuse and neglect resulting in validated case reports to the American Humane Association in 1976 was determined in relation to household composition, family income and age of the victim. Abuse and neglect were both maximal in father-only homes and minimal in two-natural-parent homes. Mother-only households exceed those with one natural and one step-parent in neglect incidence, but the reverse is true for abuse incidence. Poverty is more strongly associated with neglect risk than with abuse risk, and probably cannot account for the high risks of abuse and neglect in father-only and step-parent families. Evidence that the presence of an unrelated adult filling a parental role exacerbates the risk of physical abuse is presented and discussed.
Cohort mortality and prostate cancer
Authors: Barrett John C.
Published: July 2008

By regression analysis, the mortality from prostate cancer in England and Wales in the period 1951–70 is analysed as a function of age, date of birth and date of death. The peak mortality occurred for the cohort of men born around 1886. Age and date of birth are the most important factors and date of death does not appear to be significant.
Births by Caesarean section in the United States of America and in Britain
Authors: Francome Colin , Huntingford Peter J.
Published: July 2008

The rise in Caesarian section rates has been much greater in the United States than in Britain. This article analyses the reasons for these trends and finds they are not clearly related to good medical practice. It is concluded that it should be a cause for concern if rates rise above 6% of live births. In this case operations must be shown to be in the best interests of the mothers and their babies.
Teenage motherhood—associated factors and consequences—the experiences of a british birth cohort
Authors: Kiernan Kathleen E.
Published: July 2008

Women who bear a child in their teens differ in their childhood, adolescent and adult experiences from their peers who delay childbearing until later ages. Within the group of teenage mothers the background characteristics associated with and the consequences of pregnancy status at first birth are discussed.
Consultant gynaecologists and attitudes towards abortion
Authors: Chamberlain Audrey
Published: July 2008

Consultant gynaecologists in the Wessex Regional Health Authority were interviewed about their abortion work. Wide variations in attitudes and practice are evident. Whilst the consultants broadly refer to the same criteria in deciding whether to perform an abortion or not, the assessment they make of the relevance of these criteria is very much an individual matter.
Attitudes towards legalization of abortion among a cross-section of women in metropolitan Dacca
Authors: Chaudhury R. H.
Published: July 2008

The paper examines the attitudes towards legalization of abortion among a cross-section of 1130 currently married, fecund women of metropolitan Dacca. Abortion is a taboo subject and it is punishable under law in Bangladesh. The respondents in this study do not seem to be very hostile toward legalization of abortion but, on the contrary, favour this at least under certain situations. Only 11% of respondents are strongly opposed to legalization of abortion, but as many as 50% of the respondents endorse abortion in at least three different situations: (i) if the life of the mother is endangered: (ii) if the baby is expected to be born defective: (iii) if a woman is raped. This finding indicates that at least among a group of educated urban women there prevails a more favourable attitude towards abortion than that permitted by law. Socioeconomic factors, particularly female education, are found to be the strongest correlates of attitude towards abortion.
Sleep patterns and life style in Oxfordshire villages
Authors: Palmer C. D. , Harrison G. A. , Hiorns R. W.
Published: July 2008

Patterns of sleep are described among the adult inhabitants of a group of Oxfordshire villages as ascertained through a sleep questionnaire. Sleep duration during the main sleep period on working days, and perceived sleep quality, are then analysed in terms of associations with aspects of life style. In both men and women some 20 out of 50 responses to life style questions show significant associations with sleep duration but most of these associations differ by sex. Some show corresponding associations with sleep quality, but others, mainly related to what people actually do, rather than what they say about how they feel, do not. A principal components analysis of those life style variables which show significant associations with sleep duration, and the adjustment of individual values by these factors for entry into a multiple regression, identifies five factors in each sex which are significantly related to sleep duration. Together they account for 9·9% of the observed male variance and 12·4% of the female variance.
Obesity in a group of Italian elementary school children: family structure
Authors: Sgaramella L. Zonta , Galante A. , Jayakar S. D. , Pennetti V.
Published: July 2008

Risk factors associated with childhood obesity were examined in children of the elementary school of Aosta (northern Italy). In data from 2044 families none of the variables investigated (sibship size, mother's age, birth rank, the ‘temporarily-one-child syndrome’, and number of living parents) was found to have a significant association with the frequency of obesity, though weak associations for family size and the number of living parents may exist. The only significant difference found was between children of parents from northern Italy and those from southern Italy (recent immigrants).
The reciprocal impact of breast-feeding and culture form on maternal behaviour and infant development
Authors: Shand Nancy
Published: July 2008

A comparative study has been made of Japanese and American maternal behaviour and infant development from birth to 3 months of age, especially in relation to infant feeding practices. The effect of cultural differences on the initiation and prolongation of breast-feeding is discussed and consideration is given to factors such as alertness of the mother during the birth, post-partum procedures in hospital, family sleeping arrangements and the general style of maternal care. The possibility of a post-partum “critical” period, and its effect on infant behaviour and development, is discussed.
Characteristics of special groups of abortion patients from one health district
Authors: Ashton John R.
Published: July 2008

Four special groups of women resident and obtaining abortions in one health district are described: women under 16 years and over 35 years, those undergoing a second or third abortion, and those obtaining operations later than 20 weeks gestation. These women rarely obtain adequate contraceptive advice and services, particularly when oral contraception has not proved to be suitable for them. It appears that some general practitioners do not offer a comprehensive family planning service and that this can result in women resorting to unreliable methods of birth control despite their demonstrated willingness to use contraception.

Among the very young, though most have received teaching about contraception, few appear to use any method; the confusion over the age of consent may be contributing to the failure of adults to make adequate provision for this group. The women over 35 years seemed to have little contact with family planning advice. There was a disturbing failure to meet the demand for sterilization until an unwanted pregnancy had occurred.

Patients undergoing a second or third abortion were frequently found to have contraceptive problems; there was no evidence that they were irresponsible as a group. A description of two patients obtaining operations after 20 weeks gestation illustrates the complexities of the late abortion issue. It is suggested that restrictive legislation cannot hope to contain the determination which may accompany the decision to seek abortion.
Antenatal genetic diagnosis in Newcastle: experience of 1200 requests
Authors: Boon A. R.
Published: July 2008

A consecutive series of 1200 specimens of amniotic fluid obtained by amniocentesis from patients requesting antenatal diagnosis coming to a regional genetic advisory service is reviewed. The analysis identifies the conditions that most frequently come for antenatal diagnosis, picks out the conditions showing the highest frequency of affected fetuses on termination, and examines the success of the procedure as regards the accuracy of the genetic diagnosis and the ensuing normality of the pregnancy.
Social structural consequences of population growth
Authors: Adams R. E. W.
Published: July 2008

Estimates from archaeological data of the numbers in the elite classes, non-elite occupational specialists, density of population, city size, and size of political units in the ancient Maya civilization suggest that there was a quantum shift in rate of development in the Early Classic period, associated with intensification of agriculture, and that the social structure approximated to a generalized feudal pattern.
Systems Analysis: A Promising Focus for Biosocial Research
Authors: Shimkin Demitri B.
Published: July 2008

There is evidence that systems analysis has advanced sufficiently to have major theoretical and practical possibilities for anthropology. This paper presents support for this suggestion from studies of populations in two areas of the US: a Black migrant group in Mississippi and a Midwestern urban group. Some problems and potential applications of systems research are discussed.
Social Consequences of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Murphy Margaret
Published: July 2008

The social consequences to the patient who suffers from vesico-vaginal fistula are discussed. Patients are mainly young, come from subsistence farming backgrounds, are often considered to have brought shame on their families, and frequently lose their husband's support, especially if their condition is of long standing. In a society that places a high value on childbearing they have little hope for the future.
Social and Emotional Aspects of Voluntary Childlessness in Vasectomized Childless Men
Authors: Magarick R. H. , Brown R. A.
Published: July 2008

Responses of 44 vasectomized voluntarily childless men and 51 vasectomized fathers were compared on the California Psychological Inventory, the Bowerman Scale of Marital Satisfaction and a questionnaire. The childless felt negatively stereotyped, but there were no differences between the parents and childless on marital satisfaction, reported childhood happiness or level of psychological adjustment. There were differences in modes of adjustment, with the childless seemingly less tied to tradition, more inclined to experiment and showing more capacity for independent thought than the parents. The findings suggested that childlessness may be a viable, healthy lifestyle, not determined by or associated with personal or social pathology.
Age at First Birth and Completed Family Size in West Malaysia
Authors: Aghajanian Akbar
Published: July 2008

The relationship of completed fertility in West Malaysia to age at first birth, ethnic group, education, work experience and number of marriages is examined by multiple classification analysis. In each ethnic group, the net effect of age at first birth, after allowing for the remaining variables, is strong.
A Study of Heterozygote Arrays in Relation to the Age Distribution of An Australian Population Sample
Authors: Brackenridge C. J.
Published: July 2008

To explore the relation between arrays of multiple genetic systems and the age structure of a population, twelve plasma and red blood-cell polymorphisms were considered in combination. A comparison of observed and expected numbers of persons sharing an array indicated that 72·1% of arrays were in excess of expectation, largely due to association between over-representation and simple heterozygosity score. There was evidence of association between heterozygote excess and age, the proportion of over-represented arrays falling with increase in age. Some implications of this result are discussed.
Perception of Methods of Contraception: A Semantic Differential Study
Authors: Kee Poo-Kong , Darroch Russell K.
Published: July 2008

A psychological measurement technique, the semantic differential, is used as a measure of the perceptions of contraceptive methods among 172 sexually experienced undergraduates. This technique enables the calculation of an acceptability score based on subjectively defined attributes. Factor analysis of the ratings identifies seven major dimensions, which have to do with effectiveness, discretion, pleasure, legality, permanence, harmfulness, and cost. A sex difference is found in that comfort and mood factors are more salient to females than to males.
The Demography of Two West African (Gambian) Villages, 1951–75
Authors: Billewicz W. Z. , McGregor I. A.
Published: July 2008

From a longitudinal study over 25 years (1951–75) of two adjacent Gambian villages, the data allow estimates of population growth, birth rates, age-specific mortality, female fertility, and infertility rates in the two sexes. Such intensive but small scale local inquiries provide valuable information on topics not covered in official published statistics, and also data from which the reliability of some census details can be estimated. There are many similarities but also differences between the two villages. Population growth rate was 1·1% per annum for Keneba and 2·2% for Manduar. Crude death rates averaged 36·7 per thousand for Keneba and 24·7 for Manduar and showed little difference between the sexes. For Keneba and Manduar respectively stillbirth rates were 63·9 and 88·6, first week mortality 49·2 and 44·9 and neonatal mortality 85·2 and 49·6 per thousand live births. In Keneba, where survival to age 5 years averaged 50%, young child mortality was significantly higher than in Manduar but mortality at older ages was not. Season profoundly affected child mortality: about 45% of all deaths under 15 years occurred in the late wet season, August–October. Maternal mortality in Keneba was 10·5 and in Manduar 9·5 per thousand. Crude birth rates averaged 58·4 per thousand for Keneba and 49·0 for Manduar, rates per thousand women aged 15·44 years averaging 248·5 and 215·3 respectively.

In both villages mean birth interval increased progressively with the survival of the preceding child. In Keneba the interval increased from about 16 months when the first of the two children was stillborn to nearly 37 months when the first child survived to 2 years. In Manduar the corresponding values were 19 and 36 months. Analyses of obstetric histories indicated that total fertility was of the order of 7·5 live births per woman in Keneba and 6·4 in Manduar. Estimates of primary infertility for females were 3·6% in Keneba and 5·6% in Manduar, and for males 3·1% and 1·9%. Estimates of secondary infertility in females were 13% in Keneba and 19% in Manduar.
Counselling needs of women seeking abortions
Authors: Hare M. J. , Heywood Jane
Published: July 2008

Over the course of a year, 162 women requesting termination of pregnancy were assessed by interview by both a consultant gynaecologist and a medical social worker. Only thirteen (8%) were referred as requiring medical advice and most of these basically had social problems. In contrast, 85 (52%) were found to require the help of the medical social worker for either detailed counselling or various supportive measures.
Abortion and infant mortality before and after the 1973 US Supreme Court decision on abortion
Authors: Robertson Leon S.
Published: July 2008

The fifty states of the US were compared in 1971–72 and 1974–75 with respect to percentage apparent conceptions aborted and infant mortality rates attributed to various causes. Only non-vehicle accidental deaths were consistently related to abortion. The correlation is non-linear; non-vehicle accidental deaths were especially high in states with little or no abortion. A decline in non-vehicle accidental deaths from before to after the Supreme Court decision was most pronounced in states where there were fewest abortions before the decision and where increases in abortion occurred following the decision.
A cross-national comparison of the relative influence of male and female age on the frequency of marital intercourse
Authors: Udry J. Richard , Deven Fred R. , Coleman Samuel J.
Published: July 2008

Parallel analyses of recent data from the United States, Thailand, Belgium, and Japan all confirm the finding that female age and not male age is the more important contributor to the decline in frequency of marital intercourse during the childbearing ages. The most probable explanation is the decline in female (but not male) androgen levels during the age span examined.
Voluntary childlessness and contraception: problems and practices
Authors: Baum Frances
Published: July 2008

The attitudes of 38 voluntarily childless husbands and wives towards contraception were studied. The couples used a range of birth control methods, the most popular being the pill. Although sterilization appears to be the optimal method of contraception for couples who do not want children, several disincentives to it were mentioned. Broadly these are the finality of surgical sterilization, the dislike some individuals have for undergoing surgery and the opposition individuals anticipate meeting to a request for surgery from their GP or a consultant. Overall, contraception presents at least as many problems to childless couples as it does to parents. Some problems are unique to the childless, resulting from the continuity and length of time of birth control.
An evaluation of the use-effectiveness of fertility awareness methods of family planning
Authors: Weeks John R.
Published: July 2008

An analysis of the use-effectiveness of fertility awareness methods of family planning among clients in a San Diego, California, clinic reveals a 12-month failure rate (life-table method) of 13·2 failures per 100 women. This is comparable to results from previous studies of the use of fertility awareness methods (as defined by the sympto-thermal method) in developed nations. Also consistent with previous studies is the finding that fertility awareness method users tend to be young and well-educated. Motivational factors are identified as being most closely associated with successful use of this method of family planning.
Chromosome analyses in couples with repeated pregnancy loss
Authors: Andrews T. , Roberts D. F.
Published: July 2008

Cytogenetic investigations were undertaken on 120 couples in Newcastle with repeated pregnancy loss for which no anatomical or other obvious reason could be established. The level of major chromosome anomalies was high, with 6·7% of couples showing one member with an abnormal karyotype. One major anomaly occurred in a control series of 240 random newborns. The couples also showed an elevated incidence of chromosomal heteromorphisms. Similar studies in the literature are reviewed. It seems that major chromosome anomalies make an appreciable contribution to repeated reproductive loss, but proof of the involvement of minor chromosome variants though suspected is less clear.
Childbearing after age 35: its effect on early perinatal outcomes
Authors: Fortney Judith A. , Higgins J. E. , Diaz-Infante A. , Hefnawi F. , Lampe L. G. , Batar I.
Published: July 2008

Births to women aged 35 years and older are compared with births to women aged 20–34 in three hospitals, one each in Mexico, Egypt and Hungary. In the two developing countries, babies born to the older women had lower rates of survival until hospital discharge, and were more likely to have depressed 5-minute Apgar scores. They were not, however, more likely to be of low birth weight. The differences were statistically significant, and remained when several other variables were controlled. The variables controlled were known to be age-related and to influence pregnancy outcome.

Hungary, the only developed country in the analysis, was quite different. Age had a significant influence on the weight of the infant, but not on survival or Apgar score. It seems therefore that when older women are in general good health and there are no concurrent social risk factors, advanced maternal age does not necessarily increase the risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome.
Starting a Family in Aberdeen 1961–79: The Significance of Illegitimacy and Abortion
Authors: Pritchard Colin , Thompson Barbara
Published: July 2008

The age structure of the population of married women resident in Aberdeen District starting a family has changed over the last two decades. Since 1970, successive populations have tended to be smaller in numbers and older. These tendencies may, in part, be accounted for by couples delaying the start of family building and the related reduction in the proportions of legitimate first births which were prenuptially conceived. Although a feature of all social classes, the later ages and longer marriage durations are class differentiated, women of the higher social classes tending to be older and to have been married longer than those of the lower social classes. The increasing proportion of first pregnancies terminated relates closely to the decline in the proportion of single women, pregnant for the first time, who marry and bear a legitimate child. Although complete comparisons for Aberdeen and Scotland are not possible, the trends with respect to legitimate first births are similar.
Illegitimacy in Aberdeen
Authors: Filinson Rachel
Published: July 2008

Since the 1960s, illegitimacy rates in Britain have increased and it is likely that the rise is related to a changing meaning of illegitimacy. Three cohorts of women bearing illegitimate babies in Aberdeen are studied in order to explore the social context of illegitimacy over the period of rising illegitimacy rates. One cohort of women bore their babies in 1954, a second cohort in 1964 and the third cohort in 1974. By using three sources of official data in conjunction—birth registrations, marriage registrations and hospital records—an effort is made to construct the careers of these women and thereby to obtain some insight into the circumstances in which illegitimacy occurs. It is found that there is a continuing pattern of women who bear illegitimate babies being young, single and primiparous, that the rates of marriage and timing of marriage after delivery of an illegitimate child for all three cohorts are similar and that there is no evidence of an increased incidence of cohabitation. More and better types of data on illegitimacy are needed to supplement the existing stock of official data.
Motivations for Childbearing Among Malaysians
Authors: Kee Poo-Kong
Published: July 2008

Economic reasons for wanting children predominate among 541 Malaysian adults and 2014 children, followed by happiness, love, and companionship, the latter group especially in several subgroups of young Malaysians identified as demographic innovators. Five empirically constructed value and cost of children indices with known reliability were used to predict variation in the achieved family size of parents as well as the desired family sizes of parents and children. Completeness of family appeared to be the best predictor of achieved family size, whereas intrinsic value of a large family was generally a good predictor of family size preferences.
Inuit Natality Rhythms in the Central Canadian Arctic
Authors: Condon Richard G.
Published: July 2008

Seasonal variation in human natality is examined over a period of several decades for an isolated Inuit settlement in the central Canadian Arctic. The results substantiate earlier reports of the existence of a birth season in the first half of the year. The 2-decade period coinciding with the gradual concentration of the regional population into the settlement experienced a temporary disruption of this traditional rhythmic pattern. Family planning has been introduced in the modern period, yet birth seasonality is even more pronounced than during previous decades. Both planned and unplanned births occur predominantly in the first half of the year, indicating the paramount importance of behavioural and social responses to extreme seasonal variation.
Post–partum sterilization in Sao Paulo state, Brazil
Authors: Janowitz Barbara , Lewis Joann , Clopton Deborah , Nakamura Milton S.
Published: July 2008

This paper examines the accessibility of post-partum sterilization at five hospitals in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Of the women who planned sterilization 60% were sterilized. Services were not equally available to all women. While caesarean sections accounted for an extremely high percentage of deliveries at these hospitals, this type of delivery, and concurrent sterilizations, are not equally available to all women who indicated a desire to be sterilized. Since poor women are less likely to have caesarean deliveries, their access to sterilization is limited.
The relationship between income, education and hypertension
Authors: Sear Alan M. , Weinrich Martin , Hersh James E. , Lam Jan Jan
Published: July 2008

A sample survey was conducted in South Carolina to determine how income and education relate to hypertension, independently of age, race and sex. The results indicated that there was a significant inverse relationship between income and hypertension for Whites (P < 0·0001), but not for Blacks. There was also a statistically significant inverse relationship between education and hypertension for Whites (P < 0·0001) and for Blacks (P < 0·001).
Artificial insemination by donor: a review of 12 years' experience
Authors: Foss G. L.
Published: July 2008

Twelve years' experience of AID in a non-NHS clinic is reviewed. Of 381 women treated, 230 became pregnant at least once; 308 pregnancies were achieved in 450 courses of treatment (68%) resulting in 263 live births (85%). For women aged over 35 years the pregnancy rate was 47%. Timing of insemination and treatment with clomiphene are described. The use of fresh or frozen semen and future developments are discussed.
Family Size from the Child's Point of View
Authors: Langford C. M.
Published: July 2008

The mean size of sibship in which children are reared is greaterthan the mean number of children born to those children's parents' generation. In this paper, family size is considered from the child's point of view, and estimates made of how many siblings (and some other relatives) children have, using data from a survey carried out in Great Britain in the late 1960s. The size of the ‘family’ experienced by children is largerthan may at first sight appear. For example, women who married in the period 1941–55 onaverage had 2·2 children, but these women's children grew up, on average, in sibships of3·5 children; 38% of them grew up in a family with four children or more. Moreover, on average, these women's children had six uncles and aunts and possibly twice that number of first cousins. More than half of the children had at least one parent who was brought up in a family with six children or more and almost one in five had at least one parent who came from a family with ten children or more.
Fertility regulation in nursing women: I. The probability of conception in full nursing women living in an urban setting
Authors: Díaz S. , Peralta O. , Juez Gabriela , Salvatierra Ana María , Casado María Eugenia , Durán Eliana , Croxatto H. B.
Published: July 2008

One hundred and thirty healthy women who were willing to breast-feed their babies were followed during the first postpartum year to assess their fertility, lactation and bleeding pattern and examine possible relationships between these variables. Seventy-five women were in full nursing and 22 in partial nursing at the end of the 6th postpartum month. Five hundred and three woman-months and nine pregnancies were recorded during full nursing between the 2nd and the 6th month after delivery. The cumulative probability of pregnancy at the end of 6 months in all full nursing women and in non-amenorrhoeic full nursing women was 10.0% and 27.2% respectively. The corresponding figure for partial nursing women was 40–5%.

By the end of the first year, the cumulative probability of pregnancy in full nursing women had increased to 33.9%. Except for the bleeding pattern, no differences were found among full nursing women who did or did not become pregnant.

It was concluded that full nursing women living in an urban setting who want to space pregnancies need additional protection at a time that depends upon the level of assurance wanted.
Fertility and family planning in the Irish Republic 1975
Authors: Wilson-Davis K.
Published: July 2008

A survey of 600 married couples in the Irish Republic in 1975 found marked pronatalist attitudes and an overall mean family size of 3·1 children, ranging from 1·1 children for couples with marriage duration of less than 5 years to 5·1 children for couples married for 15 years or longer. Husbands and wives had the same viewson the ideal size for the average family—5·6 children; this is considerably higher than other European survey findings. Overall, 66% of wives said that they had used some formof contraception and this correlates highly with social class, age of wife, educational level and residence. Use of the pill correlates with residence and age but not with social class or education. One-third of the sample would like more information on the subject of family planning. Although very few gave religious attitudes as a reason for not using birth control in general, 13% stated that the pill was immoral.
Community attitudes to cancer
Authors: Dent Owen , Goulston Kerry
Published: July 2008

The success of screening programmes for cancer will depend greatly on public attitudes if sufficiently high levels of participation are tobe attained. The aimof this study was to identify major independent dimensions of public attitudes to cancer through factor analysis of responses to interview questions using a representative population sample. Data were collected by questioning a random sample of 500 persons aged 18 or over in Canberra on their attitudes to and knowledge of cancer and experience of the disease in others knownpersonally to them. Subjects with the disease were excluded. Factor analysis showed four relatively independent attitude dimensions: anxiety about cancer, denial of the threat of cancer, fatalism about prevention and fatalism about control. Item analysis and inter-scale correlations confirmed the internal coherence and relative independence of these dimensions, except that the latter two showed a moderate positive correlation. It is suggested that cancer education and promotion of screening should deal separately yet concurrently with these four attitudes toachieve best effect.
Socio-demographic Variations in the Sex composition and Preferences of Aberdeen families
Authors: Carr-Hill R. , Samphier M. , Sauve B.
Published: July 2008

In contrast to early studies of parental preference for the sex of their offspring which showed an over-riding son preference in terms of both the expressed desires for a male infant and of the sex ratio of completed families, more recent studies show that the desire for a balance of sexes outweighs the preference for a particular sex. A recent attitude survey in the UK (Dunnell, 1979) confirms this and also claims to find no difference in the pattern of preferences between social classes.

This article examines family building patterns among Aberdeen families over the last 20 years in the light of these earlier findings. The analysis shows first that considerably more families continue to have a third child after two children of the same sex than after one boy and one girl, thus supporting the proposition that parents prefer a balanced sex composition. Second, a multivariate analysis of the data shows in contrast to other findings that this tendency to continue to have a third child does vary according to social class.
Menstruation and Marital Sex
Authors: Morris Naomi M. , Richard Udry J.
Published: July 2008

Using daily report data from 85 husbands and wives for about 100 days each, this paper explores differences in sexual behaviour between menstrual and non-menstrual days. Intercourse and orgasm are reduced during menstruation, in association with impressively less female desire for intercourse during menstruation. In the highly educated group studied, the women respond to a resultant potential increase in male sexual frustration by providing the husbands an increase in non-coital orgasm on menstrual days.
Demographic and Maternal Correlates of Infant and Child Mortality in Bangladesh
Authors: Edmonston Barry
Published: July 2008

This paper analyses the influence of maternal factors (mother's age, parity, prior birth interval, and subsequent birth interval) on mortality risk for 2150 Bangladeshi infants and children, taking the sex and age of the child into account. Logistic regression estimates from retrospective maternal birth histories for the period 1966–75 reveal age and sex patterns consistent with previous research. These estimates also demonstrate that there are associations with mother's age and parity, but that prior birth interval emerges as the strongest predictor of mortality risk. It appears that part of the mortality risk of mother's age and parity actually stems from association with shorter prior birth interval, a factor to which infant and child health programmes need to give more attention.
Social Mobility and Psychometric Variation in a Group of Oxfordshire Villages
Authors: Gibson J. B. , Harrison G. A. , Hiorns R. W. , Macbeth H. M.
Published: July 2008

The patterns of male social mobility among the contemporary populations of Otmoor are described in terms of both intra- and inter-generational mobility. The social classes are differentiated by IQ and it is shown that sons' IQ is more highly correlated with their class, after their social mobility than before it. In 85 father-son pairs the number of steps sons moved in the social scale is positively related to the magnitude of the difference between their IQ and that of their fathers. However, the relationship between social mobility and IQ appears to be entirely confined to non-locally born subjects and the social mobility among the locals, although of comparable dimension is essentially non-meritocratic. These findings are discussed in relation to the structure of the Otmoor populations and particularly the phenomenon of selective out-migration.
Repeat and First Abortion Seekers: Single Women in Brisbane, Australia
Authors: Callan Victor J.
Published: July 2008

Comparison of single women who were initial and repeat abortion seekers revealed that the latter tended to perceive themselves as having a better knowledge of contraception, and to be more regular users of contraceptives. Repeat abortion seekers had more favourable attitudes towards abortion, and were more likely than first-time aborters to have initiated the abortion decision. Initial abortion seekers were somewhat more likely to rate their decision as most difficult. Both groups of single women mentioned similar reasons for wanting an abortion, although initial aborters mentioned somewhat more often the effect of the pregnancy upon career or studies, being unmarried, and disgracing their parents.
A new approach to assessing the effect of birth order on the outcome of pregnancy
Authors: Yudkin P. L. , Baras M.
Published: July 2008

A new approach is suggested for assessing the relationship between birth order and pregnancy risk. Population data are used to estimate the risk of a poor pregnancy outcome after different reproductive histories. The risk of a poor outcome at the first pregnancy appears to be twice that at subsequent pregnancies, but no change in risk is observed between the second and fifth birth orders. If there has been a previous poor pregnancy outcome, the risk of another is increased four-fold.
Fertility of Indian Tamil concentrations in Sri Lanka
Authors: Fernando Dallas F. S.
Published: July 2008

The paper uses multiple regression analysis to examine the variation in fertility among Indian Tamil concentrations in the Grama Sevaka divisions of Sri Lanka. Significant contributions are made by the proportion of females employed in agriculture, and the proportion of females aged 5–14 attending school, which together account for 85% of the variability. These variables serve as an index to the underlying attitudes to fertility and reproductive behaviour.
Australian family planning surveys: some problems of comparability
Authors: Lucas David
Published: July 2008

This paper assesses the Australian data on the current use of family planning during the 1970s. The problems of comparing the results of various surveys, and of reconciling these results with Department of Health statistics, are discussed. In spite of an unfortunate lack of comparability between the various sources, the switch from oral contraceptives to sterilization is well-marked. Whereas the IUD has maintained its popularity, natural methods are shown to be of declining importance.
Perceptions about the value and cost of children: Australian and Papua New Guinean high school youth
Authors: Callan Victor J. , Wilks Jeffrey
Published: July 2008

The present study of 329 Australian and 281 Papua New Guinean (PNG) high school youth compared students' perceptions of the economic role of children, the importance of personal aspirations, evidence of support for the conjugal family and for cultural props. As predicted, the economic role of children was more important to PNG students, and considerably less so to young Australians. Predicted differences in personal aspirations were less clear cut, but young Australians cited more frequently the restrictions and economic costs in having children. In addition, Australians emphasized more than PNG students the pleasure, pride, fulfilment and achievement in having children. As expected in a low fertility country, Australian students mentioned more often the love and companionship of children, although students in both countries had similar views about the impact of children upon the marital relationship. Lineage and religious benefits from children were more salient to PNG youth.
Breast-feeding as cultural or personal decision: sources of information and actual succes in Japan and the United States
Authors: Shand Nancy , Kosawa Yorio
Published: July 2008

The impact of sources of information about breast-feeding used by Japanese and American primiparous women during pregnancy is examined in relation to subsequent maternal behaviour and success in breast-feeding infants during the 1st week, 1st month, and 3rd month after birth. Culture differences were found in the sources of information used. Japanese mothers used more sources reflecting a formal, impersonal, group-oriented ‘learning context’, while American mothers used a greater variety of sources, reflecting both an informal, private, personalized approach and a formal approach. Hospital classes taught by nurses were significantly negatively correlated with success in breast-feeding in both cultures (r = −0.78,P< 0·01). Private consultations with health professionals and reading materials (books, magazines, pamphlets) were found to have little or no correlation with success in breast-feeding. The findings indicate that present sources of information on breast-feeding are not achieving the desired result—assisting women in learning to breast-feed their infants successfully. Sources of information need to be re-evaluated in terms of content, tenor, and the culture learning context in which information is being disseminated.
Risks and costs of illegally induced abortion in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan A. R. , Begum S. F. , Covington D. L. , Janowitz B. , James S. , Potts M.
Published: July 2008

This article reports on women admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for incomplete, illegally induced abortion. Women with low complication rates more often had abortions induced by medical practitioners. These women were younger, of lower parity and better educated than women having abortions initiated by other practitioners. Poorly educated women from slum areas almost always had an abortion induced by a non-medical practitioner through the insertion of a solid object. These women experienced high complication rates and often required hysterectomies. This group also had high mortality rates. The drain on hospital resources needed to treat these abortion patients was great.
Impact of child mortality and sociodemographic attributes on family size desires: some data from urban India
Authors: Saksena D. N. , Srivastava J. N.
Published: July 2008

Using follow-up data on a sample of mothers who gave birth at a Lucknow city hospital, the family size ideals of the women were examined in relation to experienced and perceived levels of child mortality and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.

The fear of child mortality and their own experience tended to increase the size of family which the mothers considered to be ideal. Lower ideal family size was found among younger women, those who married at later ages and those currently using contraception. Family size preferences were also influenced by rural/urban background, religion, caste, type of family, education, income and occupation of husband and type of housing.
Migration, genetic markers and race admixture in Curitiba. Brazil
Authors: Culpi L. , Salzano F. M.
Published: July 2008

One thousand Blacks and 1001 Whites from the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba were studied in relation to migration patterns, ABO and Rh blood groups, and haemoglobin types. Despite a lower socioeconomic level, Blacks migrated more than Whites. Carriers of abnormal haemoglobin types show about the same degree of mobility as those with normal haemoglobin only. As much as half of the genes present among the Blacks of this city may be of European origin, while persons classified as White may have from 3 to 19% of African ancestry.
Continuation of contraception following menstrual regulation–a Bangladesh experience
Authors: Akhter Halida H. , Rider Rowland V.
Published: July 2008

The study compares the 3 years of birth control practice of 1172 women who underwent early menstrual regulation (MR) and 499 others who accepted contraceptives only (nonMR) from an urban clinic in Bangladesh. About 60% of the women in the sample were followed-up, and their all-method continuation rate was analysed by life table technique. The 3-year overall continuation rate in the MR group (64%) did not differ from that of the nonMR group (62%). In the age groups 25 and over, the continuation rate was higher in the MR group. Among the women who did not desire any more children, the continuation rate in the MR group was significantly higher than that of the nonMR group (80% versus 68%,P< 0·05). Of women with parity greater than two, the MR group had significantly higher continuation rates than the nonMR group. The MR group had higher extended use-effectiveness for IUDs, conventional contraceptives (condom and foam), injectables, and oral contraceptives than the nonMR group. These findings indicated effective contraceptive practice following MR for this urban population. Easy availability of a multimethod service after MR seemed to be important in promoting effective contraception.
Trends and Differentials in Moslem fertility
Authors: Nagi Mostafa H.
Published: July 2008

This paper examines data on fertility levels in 33 Moslem countries between 1960 and 1980. Fertility measures include crude birth rate, total fertility rate and age-specific birth rate, and the percentage change in them between 1960 and 1980.

The analysis focuses on: (1) the current status of Moslem fertility in comparison to non-Moslem countries in the same region; (2) the emerging fertility differentials among Moslem countries; (3) how much of the recent fertility declines in some Moslem countries is associated with modernization variables and with family planning efforts.

The results indicate that: (1) Moslem fertility remains universally high and is generally higher than in non-Moslem countries in the same region; (2) very few Moslem countries have succeeded in bringing down their level of fertility to justify a search for the predictors of Moslem fertility levels; (3) in spite of a sufficient range of variations in the economic and social correlates of fertility, the corresponding fertility variables in these countries do not suggest that the reproductive behaviour of Moslem women has reacted to such variations; (4) efforts directed towards stronger family planning programmes are clearly related to fertility decline.
Effect of infant mortality on subsequent fertility of women in jordan: a life table analysis
Authors: Suchindran C. M. , Adlakha A. L.
Published: July 2008

The proportional hazards models of birth intervals based on the data from the 1976 Jordan Fertility Survey indicate that in Jordan the influence of infant death on subsequent fertility is not uniform among all population subgroups. Child survival seems to have only minimal influence on fertility among less educated women and women at low birth orders. In contrast, the probability of a subsequent birth increases significantly following an infant death among women in the high education class and among women in the high birth order group. The impact of infant death is similar among rural and urban women. Further analysis shows that the observed differences in the birth intervals of women with and without infant death experience cannot be attributed to the fecundity differentials of these two groups of women.
Voluntary sterilization in North Tyneside
Authors: Carnegie-Smith K.
Published: July 2008

Since 1975, sterilization operations, on both men and women, have been performed with increasing frequency within the National Health Service in the North Tyneside Area in north-east England. Some characteristics of people seeking this form of contraception are described, and selected aspects are compared with the results from earlier studies.
Family planning in Lae urban area of Papua New Guinea 1981
Authors: Agyei William K. A.
Published: July 2008

A summary of 298 male and 358 female respondents in the Lae urban area of Papua New Guinea in 1981 revealed a relatively high level of contraceptive awareness, but the level of contraceptive use is low. However, the overall current usages of non-traditional methods for the wives of the male and for the female respondents are 34–2% and 37% respectively. The male and the female respondents have the same views on the ideal family size—approximately three children.