bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Religion and legal abortion in Northern Ireland
Authors: Compton Paul A. , Goldstrom Lorna , Goldstrom J. M.
Published: July 2008

The number of Northern Ireland women obtaining abortions in England has risen sharply from 36 for April–December 1968 to 775 in 1972. The figure for 1973 when it becomes available will probably be about 1000.

The sample on which this paper is based consisted of 522 women who between January 1971 and August 1973 sought an abortion through the Ulster Pregnancy Advisory Association. The sample amounted to about one-quarter of all residents of Northern Ireland obtaining an abortion in England over the same period and was therefore not a random one. It was, however, fully representative for age and marital status and was thought to be generally reliable.

The 522 women included 108 Roman Catholics, who were therefore under-represented in the sample compared with the general population at risk.

The 108 Roman Catholics included 72.2% of single women, compared with 65.1% of single Protestants; they were also younger, 42.6% coming with the age group 20–24 years compared with 33.4% of the Protestants, and a higher proportion, 46.3% compared with 30.9%, had stayed at school to the age of 17 or 18 years. Only 15.7% of the Catholics had been told of the UPAA by their own doctors, compared with 45.7% of the Protestants.
Personality Differences and the Socialization Process
Authors: Millman John E.
Published: July 2008

The personality dimension ‘introversion-extraversion’ as a factor in the socialization of approved school delinquents has been examined. Contrary to expectations of certain theorists, the allegedly more easily socialized introvert is usually not under-represented in delinquent populations. The possibility was investigated, therefore, that the level and type of attention an individual receives during the socialization process is a function of personality factors thought to reflect socialization capacity. The findings supported this hypothesis from which it would follow that a significant correlation between delinquent behaviour and such personality characteristics is improbable.
The Prevalence of Mucous Discharge as a Symptom of Ovulation
Authors: Marshall John
Published: July 2008

The prevalence of vaginal mucus at the time of ovulation was recorded by 166 women in 1800 cycles along with their basal body temperature (BBT). Seventy-five per cent of women observed mucus in every cycle, 21% in some cycles only and 4% never saw mucus. Three women conceived in cycles in which there was no mucus. The time of first appearance of mucus has been related to cycle length and to the time of rise in BBT. The implications of these findings for the use of the mucous method of avoiding conception is discussed.
The repeatability of data obtained in a fertility survey
Authors: Cartwright Ann , Prince Elizabeth
Published: July 2008

This small study has looked at only one aspect of the reliability of survey data–their repeatability at an interval of 2–6 months with a different interviewer. Even for basic factual data such as date of birth, household composition and number of children there were some errors. Some were coding errors, some punching, some appeared to be reporting errors, but the numbers were small and no discernible patterns emerged.

For other factual data, such as ability to have more children or the use of different methods of contraception, the repeatability seemed to vary with the hardness of the categories. Sterilization was reported consistently, but more loosely defined characteristics, such as difficulty in conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term, proved relatively unreliable; birth control methods which involved use of an appliance were more consistently reported than withdrawal and the safe period.

If ‘hard’ facts were reported more consistently than ‘soft’ ones it might be thought that attitudes would be reported less consistently than facts. But the dimension of hard versus soft cuts across both factual and opinion data. Fortunately for us, the question about whether they wanted more children appeared relatively hard; only 2% appeared to have changed their minds radically about this. Their memory of their intentions about becoming pregnant on the last occasion was more consistent than their reports about use of contraception around the time of conception.
Further inquiry into Protestant clerical mortality patterns
Authors: King Haitung , Zafros Gregory , Hass Rita
Published: July 2008

Clerical mortality rates in the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod have been studied in relation to selected social characteristics.

Overall mortality rates in the two study groups are more favourable than those for both the general US male population and for the total US white clergy. For most specific causes, the rates for the Lutherans but a high degree of similarity exists.

Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.
The natural history of man in Shetland
Authors: Berry R. J , Muir Veronica M. L.
Published: July 2008

The Shetland Islands lie in the North Atlantic approximately equi-distant between Scotland, Norway and the Faroes. The earliest known colonizers came from the Mediterranean, but when the Vikings arrived (c. AD 800), there seem to have few or no human inhabitants. The descendants of the west Scandinavians who came to the islands in the early Viking movement still comprise the bulk of the human population, and form a series of isolates unique in the United Kingdom.

The paper summarizes the available information on the origins and physical characteristics of the Shetlanders. Much of this is trivial, but in the absence of any other review we have brought together what is known. The only blood group data are ABO frequencies which are similar to those on the other North Atlantic islands (Orkney, Faroe and Iceland). The best estimates of relationship are based on comparisons of non-metrical skull variant frequencies which show that the nearest relatives of the Shetlanders are the inhabitants of Jaeren in southern Norway. The same conclusion comes from independent evidence of linguistic affinities.

Shetland has the highest known prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the world, and possibly a high incidence of gastric ulceration. It also has a large number of standard Down's syndrome (trisomy-21) patients. These could be the result of the fathers' periodic absences at sea, resulting in their families being spread over a large span of years. Clearly there are interesting and possibly important morbidity and mortality factors operating in the population—which could give significant information about genetical factors in disease. Data on mental defect and psychiatric disease are also presented.
Maori fertility in a period of transition
Authors: Zodgekar A. V
Published: July 2008

An analysis of Maori fertility shows that a transition from a high to a low level has begun. The crude birth rate has declined by nearly 28% during the period 1961–72; only a small part of this decline can be attributed to changes in the age–sex and marital status composition.

A substantial decline in the fertility of older women has been observed and there are indications of the beginning of a major decline in the fertility of younger women. Since women aged 30–49 still account for 30% of total fertility there is enough potential for a further fertility decline in the later child-bearing years.

Age patterns of fertility decline suggest that inter-marriage between Pakehas and Maoris is not a prime cause of the recent fertility decline. The factors which are thought to be responsible for this change in Maori fertility are rapid urbanization, a low level of infant mortality and an increase in the overall level of education.

A further decline in Maori fertility will depend on the continuation of the tendency in fertility among the younger women.
Recent studies in intrauterine devices: a reappraisal
Authors: Snowden Robert
Published: July 2008

Since the first rush of publications on IUDs following the start of Tietze's Cooperative Statistical Programme for the Evaluation of IUDs (Tietze & Lewit, 1970) there has rarely been a period in which a report relating to newer, ‘second-generation’ devices has not been published. There are degrees of sophistication in these reports varying from the odd anecdotal reference and highly subjective clinical impression to carefully constructed and evaluated large-scale clinical and field trials. This in itself creates problems, for the carefully constructed trials tend to be reported long after the clinical impressions have been publicized. In some cases the impressionistic information has so affected opinion that the presentation of data from large-scale trials providing greater validity and reliability becomes merely an academic exercise.
Male sterilization in Thailand: a follow-up study
Authors: Burnight Robert G. , Muangmun Verasing , Cook Michael J.
Published: July 2008

A retrospective study of 185 Thai males who had been vasectomized at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, between January 1970 and March 1973 was conducted during the period May–July 1973. At the time of the vasectomy the mean age of the men was 33·5 years and the mean age of their wives was 29·9 years; they had a mean of 3·7 living children. The motivation for seeking a permanent method of fertility control was a combination of adverse economic pressures, a degree of rationality in family building, and worry over additional pregnancies. Only a few of the men experienced any medical complications as a result of the operation, and the most significant factor associated with health was fatigue. Few changes in mental health, social relationships, or personal habits occurred as a result of the operation. Post-vasectomy changes in sexual relations were found to be minimal; if occurring at all, such changes were usually improvements. Taking into consideration the age of husband and wife, duration of marriage, and number of living children, the demographic impact of vasectomies in Thailand seems to be greater than that in other developing countries where comparisons can be made.
Spontaneous fetal loss: a note on rates and some implications
Authors: Cutright Phillips
Published: July 2008

After reviewing recent work indicating that the level of spontaneous fetal loss (SFL) is much higher than estimates derived from traditional sources, this paper assesses some implications of differential rates of SFL by race and maternal health and challenges the common view that early SFL is largely a function of genetic abnormalities of the fetus and thus subject to little change over time. If, as is argued here, SFL changes over time in response to changing environmental conditions, fertility trends may be affected by environmental trends. An example of the possible impact of declining SFL on marital fertility rates over the period 1940–60 in the US is provided. The paper concludes with work that uses new estimates of SFL rates to measure the extent to which induced abortion may be unnecessary because the pregnancy would terminate spontaneously, and then estimates the extent to which contraceptive failure rates, as measured in the US National Fertility Study of 1965, may be deflated due to under-reporting of SFL.
First and repeat abortions: a study of decision-making and delay
Authors: Bracken Michael B. , Kasl Stanislav V.
Published: July 2008

In a sample of 345 women aborting at a New York clinic, women having a repeat abortion had delayed significantly less in seeking abortion than had women aborting for the first time. Those having a repeat abortion were more likely to anticipate, suspect and acknowledge pregnancy, and to have located the abortion clinic more rapidly, once the decision to have an abortion was made. Psychological reactions to the decision did not differ between women having first and repeat abortions. The complex interactions of many of the factors involved in the decision-making process were examined by path analysis. Variables entering the path analysis explained 36·0 and 52·4% of the variance in delay for first and repeat abortions, respectively. The analyses suggest that women having repeat abortions come from at least three groups: (1) those whose contraceptive method failed because of technical failure; (2) those experiencing contraceptor failure due to social and personal interactions with the method not conducive to optimal contraceptive practice, and (3) those women who are not practising contraception and for whom repeated unwanted pregnancies may be a response to neurotic needs.
Planning versus fatalism
Authors: Chamberlain Audrey
Published: July 2008

A study of a group of highly fertile women indicated that the majority tended to adopt a fatalistic approach to having children.

An exploratory attempt to isolate those conditions which might be associated with this type of behaviour included consideration of the women's general attitudes towards planning or not planning their future, in relation to their socio-demographic background. The work represents a first step in developing more useful methods of investigating fatalistic approaches to pregnancy and childbirth.
The Kota of the Nilgiri hills: a demographic study
Authors: Ghosh Aloke Kumar
Published: July 2008

A population–biological study of the Kota of the Nilgiri Hills was undertaken between May 1966 and January 1968. This paper discusses the demographic structure of the tribe and its genetic implications.

The Kota is a small tribe of 1203 individuals distributed in only seven villages; it is an isolated population with a low rate of fertility and a high rate of infant mortality. The Kota is not a random mating population. The rate of consanguineous marriages is high and the coefficient of inbreeding is almost equal to the highest recorded value. Besides cousin marriages, marriage within the village is very much preferred. The admixture rate (0·29%) among the Kota is very low. The effective population size is only 28·87% of the total population. The coefficient of breeding isolation is 1·01, which indicates that genetic drift may produce important differentiation in this population. The data show that selection is acting with moderate intensity in this population.
Effect of some progestational steroids on lactation in Egyptian women I. Milk yield during the first year of lactation
Authors: Hefnawi F , Fawzi G , Badraoui M. H. H
Published: July 2008

The effect of four progestational drugs on the amount of milk yield in a group of lactating Egyptian women was estimated during the first year of lactation. The milk yield was highest in the women given Depo-Provera, followed by those receiving Deladroxone and quingestanol acetate. Only in those women given chlormadinone acetate was the milk yield, on average, lower than in the control group of non-medicated women.
The influence of wife's education on fertility in rural Egypt
Authors: Khalifa Atef M
Published: July 2008

Based on survey data from rural Egypt, the effects of the wife's education on fertility and family planning were investigated and shown to be very important. In accordance with the results of most other studies, there is an inverse relationship with the number of live births. The wife's education is also shown to influence attitudes towards family size, spacing, and knowledge and approval of contraceptives, all of which lead to a high proportion of contraceptive use and help to achieve the desired family size. There was also a clear inverse association between the wife's education and pregnancy loss and infant mortality; these latter two variables showed positive correlations with the number of live births.

(Summary in Arabic on p. 60)
Marital structure and birth rate in Nepal
Authors: Stoeckel John , Tuladhar Jayanti M , Gubhaju B.B , Joshi P. L
Published: July 2008

The shift in the marital structure of Nepal between 1961 and 1971 has been analysed, and its implications for the CBR in 1971, Although there has been a slight increase in the age at marriage, over 90% of Nepali women were married by the ages of 20–24 years in 1971 and the overall marital structure of 1971 is more favourable to a higher CBR than the structure at the beginning of the decade. This is primarily due to a decline in the incidence of widowhood which has increased the proportions of potential child-bearing women and consequently the number of births. Thus shifts in the marital structure between 1961 and 1971 could have provided little impetus to a decline in the CBR of the country.
Social factors influencing female swimming performance
Authors: Dyer K. F
Published: July 2008

The differences between male and female performance in free style swimming events are compared. It is found that the differences between male and female performance, as measured by world records, is declining in all events and declining most rapidly in those events in which the differences at the present time are largest. Analysis of national records for these events shows important differences between different countries in average male/female differentials.

A different set of physical and physiological constraints operate on swimming compared to track performance, but they would seem to be less important in influencing male/female differences. Social factors also seem to be less important in swimming than in track athletics in perpetuating performance differences but are nevertheless still operative.
Assortative marriage for psychometric, personality and anthropometric variation in a group of Oxfordshire villages
Authors: Harrison G. A , Gibson J. B , Hiorns R. W
Published: July 2008

A study has been made in a group of rural Oxfordshire villages of levels of similarity between husbands and wives for IQ, personality and some anthropometric characteristics. Significant levels of assortative marriage have been found in both verbal and performance IQ, personality ‘inconsistency’, stature, weight and some other bodily dimensions. Their nature has been analysed by time of marriage, birthplace and social class, all of which appear to have marked effects. On the other hand, length of courtship and distance apart of the partners' residences at marriage seem to be more or less inconsequential.
Integration of family planning and maternal and child health in rural West Africa
Authors: Neumann Alfred K. , Ofosu-Amaah Samuel , Ampofo Daniel A. , Nicholas David D. , Asante Rexford O.
Published: July 2008

There is controversy extending beyond that of whether family planning or population control measures should be promoted among various populations. Even when the decision has been made to provide family planning advice, information and service, debate often arises as to the best method of administering a family planning programme—whether to integrate it with maternal and child health (MCH) services, offer it post-partum, or provide it independently of all other health activities.

The Danfa Comprehensive Rural Health and Family Planning Project, Ghana, is investigating the general problem of health service delivery, including family planning, and is doing so with a firm commitment to efficient management, staff training and supervisory maintenance. An established research design and ongoing evaluation efforts, including cost and functional analyses, are an integral part of the project. While it is believed that the integrated MCH/Family Planning approach will yield optimal results in family planning acceptance (as well as reduction in morbidity and mortality), other alternatives of health care and family planning service delivery are being evaluated.
Some comments on the demographic and social effects of the 1967 Abortion Act
Authors: Leete Richard
Published: July 2008

Estimates of the incidence of illegally induced abortions are critically reviewed and on the basis of a revised estimate it is tentatively suggested that there were 50,000 (legal plus illegal) abortions induced annually between 1964 and 1966. A substantial reduction in the extent of illegal abortions is an important consequence of the 1967 Abortion Act. But induced abortion is seen as a contributory factor only in the decline of legitimate fertility which has been greater at all ages and all parities than the increment of abortions to married women. A particularly marked reduction in legitimate births occurred between 1972 and 1975 whereas the number of induced abortions performed on married women declined slightly. However, the reversal of the secular trend of increasing illegitimacy is evidence of the demographic impact of the Act. Regional rates of abortion are found to be unassociated with the decline in high parity births but nagatively associated with illegitimacy ratios. At the regional level differences in the proportion of abortions performed under the NHS remain. At the national level a lower proportion of early terminations occur in the public sector than in the private sector, and women in the least skilled occupational groups have their abortions latest.
A survey of attitudes among 979 women attending a birth control clinic
Authors: MacDevitt Judy , Goldman Louis
Published: July 2008

Interviews were carried out with 979 women attending a clinic for birth control advice. Most of the patients were single, middle-class women who worked in central London offices. More than 600 had never approached their GP for advice; of these, about 200 were reluctant to do so because of embarrassment or fear of the reception they might get. Those that did visit a GP intially tended to complain of a lack of interest. Fewer patients who had sought help from a local family planning clinic expressed a similar dissatisfaction but one-third did criticize the facilities and service provided. Two-thirds of the patients were surprisingly ignorant about the contraceptive facilities available in the areas in which they lived.
The zygosity of twins: further evidence on the agreement between diagnosis by blood groups and written questionnaires
Authors: Kasriel Judith , Eaves Lindon
Published: July 2008

The agreement between zygosity diagnosis in twins by reference to the twins' own answers to written questions and diagnosis based on an objective assessment of zygosity by blood-typing is studied for 178 pairs of same sex twins. Seventy-two female and 106 male twin pairs answered two questions concerning their similarity in appearance and frequency of confusion in childhood, and were blood-grouped using up to 23 different antisera. Of those pairs concordant for all markers and diagnosed as MZ, 98% agreed that they were confused in childhood and that they are alike in physical appearance. Only 55% of those pairs discordant for at least one marker and classified as DZ agreed that they were never confused and are not alike in appearance. The replies of the remaining 45% are spread over all the other combinations of responses. If all twins who agree that they were confused in childhood and are alike in appearance were to be classified as MZ on the basis of the questionnaire alone, and all others as DZ, the diagnoses of only seven pairs out of the total 178 (3–9%) would disagree with those based on blood group data.
Demographic and contraceptive innovators: a study of transitional African society
Authors: Caldwell J. C , Caldwell Pat
Published: July 2008

Data are employed from six surveys carried out in Ibadan City, Nigeria, during two survey programmes: the Nigerian segment of the Changing African Family Project in 1973, and the Nigerian Family Study in 1974–5. A distinction is made between contraceptive innovators, those who use any means to control fertility except the traditional Yoruba sexual abstinence, and demographic innovators, those who succeed in limiting their family size. It is shown that contraceptive innovation is now proceeding rapidly but has little connection with demographic innovation. Contraceptive innovation is a response to social change which has increased the likelihood of premarital and extramarital sexual relations and the desire to shorten the period of postnatal sexual abstinence while not increasing the interval between births. Such innovation has proceeded more rapidly because of the increased availability of contraceptives since about 1960 and because of the types of contraceptives which have been developed since then. Demographic innovation is on the increase but its incidence is still minute. Fertility restriction within marriages seems to take place only after profound changes have occurred in the economic relationships within both the extended and nuclear families which for the first time make the small family the economically rational choice. Such change probably depends more on the import of cultural patterns than on necessary cultural adjustments to imported economic change, but a strengthening of the conjugal bond is involved and this may be hastened by contraceptive innovation. Little innovational trauma or even awareness of profound change was detected, largely because the profound, and even disruptive, innovations are preceding social ones, but partly too because peer group behaviour changes at much the same time.
The artifactual nature of effects of maternal age on risk of stillbirth
Authors: Resseguie Laurence J.
Published: July 2008

Analysis of stillbirth data from the State of Wisconsin demonstrates that the association of stillbirth rate with mother's age is basically an artifact of analysis rather than a reflection of genuine effects of age on risk. When births to mothers of a single parity are subdivided according to the amount of education completed by the mother, the association between stillbirth rate and maternal age in each educational group differs substantially from the others. The association observed for all births of a single parity is inapplicable to any educational subdivision of the data.

It is argued that the associations which are observed are the consequence of social forces which distribute women of varying intrinsic risk of stillbirth unevenly among age–parity categories.
Spacing of children and changing patterns of childbearing
Authors: Young Christabel M.
Published: July 2008

The first part of the paper traces changes in the length of the childbearing period and ages of women at the time of their first and last births among women in Australia married between 1905–09 and 1965–69. The source of information was survey data concerning the respondents themselves (once married, currently married women aged under 60 years at 1971) and information that they gave concerning their mothers' childbearing experience. The main observations are that the trend towards smaller families was more marked among the mothers and that the change in the size distribution of families was the major factor in reducing the length of the childbearing period for marriages occurring up to the Second World War, while closer spacing of children was the major factor since then. The second part of the paper examines more detailed supplementary information about the respondents, including changes in the dispersion of the timing of births, the rapid rate of childbearing among the 1955–59 marriage cohort, reasons for delaying the first birth, and differences in behaviour according to education and religion. The discussion raises the question of the rationality of the trend towards closer spacing of children, with special reference to the interaction between a woman's work role and family role.
A note on the future demographic structure of the coloured population of Birmingham, England
Authors: Woods R. I.
Published: July 2008

The combination of results from the 1971 Population Census and data specific to Birmingham make it possible to revise past estimates of the numbers of coloured persons in Great Britain. Such information also permits projections of the relative age structures of the coloured and total populations of Birmingham under differing fertility assumptions and Thomas's (1970) conclusions may therefore be revised.
Psychological factors in IUD use—a review
Authors: Reading A. E. , Newton J. R.
Published: July 2008

The high variability between centres in the incidence of side effects related to intrauterine devices (IUDs) is taken to indicate the need to direct research attention towards the context in which IUDs are inserted, as opposed to exclusive concern with the nature of the device. This paper considers the significance of psychological factors at the time of insertion in the light of recent studies indicating the benefits of adequate patient preparation.
Matrimonial migration: a review, with special reference to India
Authors: Pratim Manjumder Partha
Published: July 2008

The study of the distribution of matrimonial distances is extremely important in the understanding of human population structure. The existing models of matrimonial migration are reviewed here. An assessment of the roles played by various social, cultural, economic, religious and linguistic factors in shaping the distribution of matrimonial distances has been made, with special reference to India.
Effectiveness of contraception in Belgium: results of the Second National Fertility Survey, 1971 (NEGO II)
Authors: Cliquet R. L. , Schoenmaeckers R. , Klinkenborg L.
Published: July 2008

The percentage of accidental pregnancies, the Pearl pregnancy rate and the life-table method have all been used to study the effectiveness of contraception in Belgium, using data from the Second National Fertility Survey (1971), which covered 3397 Belgian women in the age group 30–34 years. Though all three methods yield generally similar results, it is only by using the third method that we can obtain in an optimum way changes in contraceptive effectiveness by birth order and birth interval.

Generally, contraceptive effectiveness is low, the cumulative failure rate for the first 12 months of all intervals amounting to 18%. This holds even for intrinsically extremely reliable methods, such as the pill (4%). The efficiency of contraception, however, improves with increasing duration of marriage. This is attributable not only to a shift towards more effective methods, but also to a better application of less reliable methods, such as withdrawal. It remains questionable whether the increase in effectiveness, especially of a method such as withdrawal, is not partially based on induced abortion.

The findings also clearly reveal the dual aspect of the contraceptive behaviour in the sample: spacing until desired family size is achieved, and prevention thereafter.

The efficiency of contraception decreases with increasing family size, whatever birth interval is considered.
Factors affecting the incidence of Down syndrome in Scotland
Authors: Holloway Susan , Emery Alan E. H.
Published: July 2008

The incidence of Down syndrome in Scotland between 1960 and 1974 was estimated using data from thirteen Area Health Boards. Incidences in individual years, in different months of the year and in different maternal age groups were also determined. There was an apparent increase in incidence in more recent years almost certainly due to increased ascertainment. This may have obscured any decrease in incidence which might be expected as a result of a decrease in mean maternal age during this period and the introduction of antenatal diagnosis. No seasonal differences in incidence could be detected either in the whole area or in individual Area Health Boards. There was an increase in incidence with maternal age which was not significantly different from that found by other investigators. There was also an indication of an increase in relative incidence (% Down syndrome births/% live births) over the period 1966–74 in mothers aged 35 years and older.
Birth spacing and prolonged lactation in rural Zambia
Authors: Wenlock R. W.
Published: July 2008

Data were collected from 1044 mothers resident in the rural areas of Zambia during a National Nutrition Status Survey, to determine the effect of lactation on the interval between conceptions. Lactation is very prolonged with a small proportion of mothers continuing up to 33 months. A main reason for cessation of breast-feeding appears to be a new pregnancy, only 1.5% of mothers being neither pregnant nor lactating up to 12 months. During lactation, conception is delayed for at least 12 months. The peak in new conceptions occurs between 25 and 27 months. The normal interval between births is 3 years for rural Zambian mothers.
Social Identity and Genetic Variability
Authors: Cartwright R. A. , Hargreaves H. J. , Sunderland E.
Published: July 2008

The paper presents the results of five polymorphic systems in a sample of 999 individuals from Nottinghamshire. The results are classified by the socio-economic grouping of parents and self.

The results show that social class differences for the genetic attributes exist and are almost linear when aggregated distances are computed. There are differences, however, between parental and offspring results. These differences may be the result of changes in social class over the last generation. This social mobility is investigated and it is shown that an upward movement in social class is associated with characteristic genotype groupings.
The Fourth Korean Child: The Effect of Son Preference on Subsequent Fertility
Authors: Park Chai Bin
Published: July 2008

This article, based on retrospective survey data, examines the fertility performance of third-order parity women in Korea, following births of specified sexes of children already born. Although the study indicates that additional births and spacing of children after the third birth are strongly influenced by the sex composition of the first three children, this influence becomes apparent only after the introduction of a vigorous national family planning programme. It seems that both the number of sons and the sequence of sons and daughters play an important role in determining subsequent fertility. More than twice as great a proportion of third-parity women proceeded to the fourth parity if the women had three daughters rather than three sons.
Problems of pre-natal screening programme for Down's syndrome in older women
Authors: Duncan Sheila L. B.
Published: July 2008

There is currently both an absolute and relative reduction in births to older women. In a single hospital population the number of older women. In a single hospital population the number of older women having amniocentesis for pre-natal diagnosis is only a small, though increasing, proportion of those at risk. The main factors in failure of offering amniocentesis are late booking and communication difficulty.
Pheromonal influences on human sexual behaviour: an experimental search
Authors: Morris Naomi M. , Udry J Richard
Published: July 2008

An experiment was designed to test the effect of a synthetic hypothetical human female pheromone on sexual behaviour. Sixty-two married couples participated for 3 menstrual months. No effect was found.
Social mobility and IQ components
Authors: Mascie-Taylor C. G. Nicholas , Gibson John B.
Published: July 2008

This study examines the relationship between verbal, performance and total IQ scores and social class of 193 male householders living in a Cambridge suburb. The correlation coefficients between IQ scores and present occupational status were significantly higher than the correlations between IQ scores and social class of origin, suggesting that intragenerational social mobility is positively related to IQ.

Parent–offspring data were available for 85 father–son pairs. Analysis of the IQ differences between fathers and sons in relation to their social class differences provided further evidence for selective migration related to both IQ components and total IQ scores. In this sample there was a simple relationship between the extent of social mobility and the degree of difference between the father's and son's IQ scores.
Estimation of births averted due to induced abortions
Authors: Pathak K. B. , Kataraki P. A.
Published: July 2008

This paper presents a method of estimating the number of births averted due to induced abortions by utilising the data on prospective birth intervals of the women. Numerical illustrations are given.
Talking about children: an examination of accounts about reproduction and family life
Authors: Payne Judy
Published: July 2008

This study explores the reasons which individuals give for initially wanting children; data are drawn from intensive interviews concerned with reproduction, marriage and family life which were conducted with couples in the childbearing stage of marriage. The study is an extension of the approach but forward by Busfield (1974) in that it examines the beliefs which structure social constructions of reproduction.

The evidence suggests that, although wide-ranging beliefs are drawn upon in accounting for wanting children, the underlying reasons are concerned with beliefs about the nature of ordinary adult life. However, except at a very general level, such beliefs are not uniformly held but are selected and structured by the particular situation and experience of individuals. The approach demonstrates how a deeper understanding of reproductive behaviour can be gained by relating it to the wider context of family, marriage and adult life.
Sensation seeking and gonadal hormones
Authors: Daitzman Reid J. , Zuckerman Marvin , Sammelwitz Paul , Ganjam Venkataseshu
Published: July 2008

Two samples of male students (N = 25, and N = 51) and a small sample of female students (N = 7) were administered the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), and blood samples were drawn on two occasions to determine plasma levels of androgens and oestrogens. Reliable and significant simple and partial correlations were found between the sex hormones and the SSS subscale, Disinhibition. Partial correlations simultaneously controlled for height, weight, age, and recency of orgasm.
Incidence of red–green colour blindness in some populations of Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal: an examination of the selection relaxation hypothesis
Authors: Mukherjee B. N. , Malhotra K. C. , Kate S. L.
Published: July 2008

The term colour blindness is generally used to describe the lack of sensitivity to colours. Although there are instances of total colour blindness, in most cases the people confuse red or green, and this defect is an X-linked trait. This colour vision anomaly is widely used as a genetic marker in the study of human variation, and is frequently cited as ‘relaxed selection’ according to the Post (1962) and Pickford (1963) hypothesis.
Incidence of ovulatory cycles in women approaching the menopause
Authors: Metcalf Mary G.
Published: July 2008

Urine was collected at weekly intervals at weekly intervals for three or more months from 139 menstruant women aged 40–55 years. Menstrual cycles were classed as ovulatory if the 24-hr pregnanediol output was > 5 μmol on a single occasion, or if the total excreted on 2 days 1 week apart was > 7 μmol. Of the 81 women who reported no change in menstrual frequency, 95% ovulated in every cycle. Only 34% of the 53 with a recent history of oligomenorrhoea ovulated without fail. Ovalation occurred in 93% of all 21–35-day menstrual cycles, in 55% of 36–50-day cycles, in 40% of 51–75-day cycles and in 17% of those lasting > 76 days. Pregnanediol increases suggestive of ovulation and followed by menstruation were observed on 31 occasions after amenorrhoea of from 2 to 6 months' duration.
The cost per unit of family planning services
Authors: Robinson Warren C.
Published: July 2008

This paper presents results of a cross-sectional analysis of family planning programme costs per unit for a group of 28 countries. The costs per unit are analysed using regression techniques with variables of programme (age, scale and type of programme) and setting (demographic structure, socio-economic level of development, health, accessibility and other). The Couple-Years of Protection Index is used for standardization and the variation in personnel costs among the countries is allowed for. There is considerable variation among programmes in cost per unit. Some of this variation is explained by differences in socio-economic structure. The cost per unit, measured in US $, is considerably higher than is generally thought.
The timing of post-partum menstruation and breast feeding: a simple formula
Authors: Billewicz W. Z.
Published: July 2008

A function is proposed for estimating the proportion of women who resumed menstruation at a given time post-partum on the basis of the proportion of women breast feeding at that time. The function was fitted to 25 series of incidences from nine countries (236 time points), most countries providing three contrasting groups: urban (well-to-do), urban (poor) and rural. The average error of the estimate within series was 0·08. At any given time post-partum variation in breast feeding proportions [explained] on average 85% of between series variance in the proportions of menstruating women. Some uses of the function are briefly considered.
Resumption of menstruation among urban post-partum women in Bangladesh
Authors: Swenson Ingrid
Published: July 2008

Half the women in this study had resumed menses by the 6th month post-partum. Concurrent with these findings, less than 50% were still breast-feeding at the 6th month post-partum. The majority of these breast-feeding women were partially breast-feeding. By the 6th post-partum month more than 90% of the women had resumed intercourse and slightly less than half were using contraceptives. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional data indicate that only 25% of the women were using contraceptives at 12 months post-partum. These results show a much shorter period of lactational amenorrhoea than has been reported for a rural area of Bangladesh.
An estimate of the effect of abortions on the stillbirth rate
Authors: Gandy R. J.
Published: July 2008

Consideration is given to the impact of the change in the Abortion Laws in 1968 on the national stillbirth rate. From investigation of the demographic characteristics of women having abortions it appears that abortions accounted for at least 26% of the fall in the stillbirth rate from 1969 to 1974.
Legalized abortion in South Australia: The first 7 years' experience
Authors: Yusuf Farhat , Briggs Dora
Published: July 2008

This paper examines the official abortion statistics for South Australia since the legalization of abortion in January 1970. The incidence of abortion is shown to be increasing steadily—in 1976 more than half of the extramarital pregnancies were terminated and the overall ratio of abortions to live births was nearly 1:6. Most abortion patients were single, young women. Comparison of fertility levels in South Australia with the rest of Australia shows that the fertility decline has been much more rapid in South Australia, suggesting that unless the South Australian women are more efficient users of contraception than other Australian women, a significant proportion of the fertility decline in South Australia has to be attributed to legalized abortion.
Genetic disease and culture patterns in Lebanon
Authors: Basson P. M.
Published: July 2008

Cases of βthalassaemia and haemophilia (factor 8 and 9 deficiency) in pre-war Lebanon were examined for social and genetic information, using medical records. All diagnosed cases admitted to the American University Hospital in Beirut between 1960 and 1970 were examined. Muslims and families of lower socioeconomic status predominated in the data, and many cases were located in the semi-rural poverty belt of Beirut, where many rural migrants and Palestinian refugees congregate. Parental consanguinity rates among male haemophiliacs were used as estimates for the general population. Consanguinity is higher in the thalassaemic population. In the Christian population the incidence of this autosomal recessive disorder appears to have been inflated by consanguinity more than in the Muslims
The effect on birth weight of employment during pregnancy
Authors: Gofin Jaime
Published: July 2008

A study of employment during pregnancy and its effects was carried out among pregnant women who were under the care of the Community Health Center, Hadassah Medical School, in a neighbourhood of West Jerusalem. Of the women, 46−2% worked during pregnancy, and 78−6% of them were in occupations which demanded light physical activity. Most of the women worked throughout the whole pregnancy. Educational level as well as parity emerged as the main factors in determining whether a pregnant woman worked or not. No significant effects of employment were found in pregnancy complications or length of gestation, but significant differences did emerge in the number of delivery abnormalities. This finding is interpreted as the result of the interaction of several social conditions rather than of work itself. The findings support the hypothesis that work by itself does not affect either pregnancy or its outcome (as measured by birth weight).
Contraceptive practice and repeat induced abortion: an epidemiological investigation
Authors: shepard Mary Jo , Bracken Michael B.
Published: July 2008

The relationship between abortion experience and contraceptive practice is examined among women having a first or repeat induced abortion at the same clinic(n=443 in each group). A previous abortion was the single most important predictor of past contraceptive practices and of contraception at the conception of the pregnancy being terminated. A previous abortion was associated with greater use of all methods of contraception among women not on welfare (P < 0·001). During the 18–month study the proportion of patients who had had previous abortions rose from 13·3% to 21·1%, and those undergoing repeat abortions appeared increasingly likely to be on welfare. Contraceptive practies did not change over time except for women on welfare having repeat abortions who became less likely to have used contraception at the time of conception (p < 0·05). While the experience of abortion is generally associated with improved contraceptive practice, many women in this population, particularly those on welfare, appear to remain exposed to unprotected coitus and subsequent repeat abortion.
Towards an understanding of the American abortion rate
Authors: Francome Caroline , Francome Colin
Published: July 2008

This article considers the birth control experience of 800 patients for abortion in the United States and makes comparison with British data. The results uncover some cultural factors associated with non-use of contraception. Some suggestions are made as to social changes that would be desirable to reduce the abortion rate.
Family planning knowledge, attitude and practice in the rural areas of Sarawak
Authors: Lam C.K.
Published: July 2008

A survey of 1056 married women living in rural areas of Sarawak showed that 86% of them of had knowledge of family planning and 85% expressed a favourable attitude towards it. Of the total sample, 46% were using some form of contraception; the pill was the most popular method and was used by 76% of the women practising contraception. The present average family size in rural sarawak is 5·3 and greater family planning programme effort will be needed if this is to be reduced, especially in view of the social and cultural factors involved and the generally low educational standard of the women
Age at menarche, at first intercourse, and at first pregnancy
Authors: Udry J. Richard
Published: July 2008

Data from an urban sample of American women of reproductive ages demonstrate that age at menarche is correlated with age at first intercourse, that age at first intercourse is correlated with age at first pregnancy, and that age at menarche is therefore correlated with age at first pregnancy. This applies to both blacks and whites when examined for the early years of the reproductive cycle. Girls with early menarche, compared to those with late menarche, are more than twice as likely to have had intercourse by age 16, and almost twice as likely to have given birth or had a pregnancy terminated by age 18. It is therefore useful to think of the timing of meanarche as an indicator of the probability of early intercourse and early childbearing.
Increment-decrement tables for human reproduction
Authors: Suchindran C.M. , Namboodiri N.K. , West K.
Published: July 2008

This paper illustrates the application of increment—decrement life table methods to the study of family building patterns among women. Here age at the oocurrence of a specified birth is considered the principal duration variable. Data from a sample of currently married women from the 1965 US National Fertility Study were used to illustrate the method.