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JOURNAL OF BIOSOCIAL SCIENCE
JANUARY 1996 - VOLUME 28, NUMBER 1
97.55.1 - English - C. VAREA, E. CROGNIER, D. BLEY, G. BOETSCH, UPR 221 du CNRS, Aix-en-Provence (France), P. BAUDOT, Université de Provence, Aix-Marseille (France), A. BAALI and M. K. HILALI, ER d'Ecologie Humaine, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech (Morocco)
Determinants of contraceptive use in Morocco: Stopping behaviour in traditional populations (p. 1-13)
The determinants of modern contraceptive use in traditional populations are analysed in married women aged 30-44 living in the province of Marrakech (Morocco). Women who have never used contraception have smaller family sizes than those who do: the number of live children (or live births) is the variable with maximum predictive power on contraceptive use, while child mortality is the main inhibiting factor. The probability of contraceptive use increases with female age at marriage and decreases with the woman's age, indicating a generational change in reproductive behaviour. The socioeconomic variables education, employment and residence, have no significant independent predictive character on contraceptive use, although the interaction between education and residence does. The paper evaluates the hypothesis that traditional populations in the initial phase of their demographic transition resort to modern contraception in order to stop childbearing, when they have reached a desired number of children, rather than to space births or reduce their fertility. (MOROCCO, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE, FERTILITY DETERMINANTS)
97.55.2 - English - Eric O. UDJO, Department of Demography, University of Botswana, Gaborone (Botswana)
Is fertility falling in Zimbabwe? (p. 25-35)
With an unequalled contraceptive prevalence rate in sub-Saharan Africa, of 43% among currently married women in Zimbabwe, the Central Statistical Office (1989) observed that fertility has declined sharply in recent years. Using data from several surveys on Zimbabwe, especially the birth histories of the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, this study examines fertility trends in Zimbabwe. The results show that the fertility decline in Zimbabwe is modest and that the decline is concentrated among high order births. Multivariate analysis did not show a statistically significant effect of contraception on fertility, partly because a high proportion of Zimbabwean women in the reproductive age group never use contraception due to prevailing pronatalist attitudes in the country. (ZIMBABWE, FERTILITY DECLINE, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE)
97.55.3 - English - Jane T. BERTRAND, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans (U.S.A.), BAKUTUVWIDI MAKANI, CITRED, Kinshasa (Zaire), Michael P. EDWARDS, Nancy C. BAUGHMAN, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans (U.S.A.), KINAVWIDI LEWU NIWEMBO, CITRED, Kinshasa (Zaire), and BALOWA DJUNGHU, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans (U.S.A.)
The male versus female perspective on family planning: Kinshasa, Zaire (p. 37-55)
Males have often been neglected in both family planning programmes and in surveys used to design and evaluate such programmes. A 1988 study on fertility, family planning and AIDS in Kinshasa, Zaire, provides comparable data on 3140 men and 3485 women of reproductive age which served as the basis for analysing male/female differences. The study indicated a fair degree of similarity in the attitudes, beliefs, knowledge levels and practices of men and women regarding fertility and family planning. Where they differed (e.g. on expected or ideal number of children, the desire for more children at parity 7 or above), men tended to be more pronatalist than women. The implications of the findings for future family planning programmes are discussed. Programmes should target males because of their role as decision makers within Zairian society. (ZAIRE, FAMILY PLANNING, FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMMES, SEX DIFFERENTIALS)
97.55.4 - English - Carla MAKHLOUF OBERMEYER, Harvard University, School of Public Health, Boston (U.S.A.)
Fertility norms and son preference in Morocco and Tunisia: Does women's status matter? (p. 57-72)
This paper investigates the normative and behavioural dimensions of son preference in Morocco and Tunisia, using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of the two countries. It considers three measures of son preference: (1) mothers' ideal number of children, and any preference for having more sons than daughters; (2) the desire for additional children, given their existing family; (3) reported use of contraception in relation to the existing number of children of each sex. The analyses indicate a moderate preference for sons in both countries, and suggest that this preference is somewhat stronger in Tunisia. These findings are interpreted within the cultural context of the two countries, and in particular societal notions of women's status. (MOROCCO, TUNISIA, SEX PREFERENCE, WOMEN'S STATUS)
97.55.5 - English - Edward G. STOCKWELL and Franklin W. GOZA, Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio (U.S.A.)
Racial differences in the relationship between infant mortality and socioeconomic status (p. 73-84)
This paper presents an ecological analysis of the relationship between infant mortality and economic status by race in metropolitan Ohio, using census data on mother's residence, and economic status determined by the percentage of low income families living in each area. White-non-white comparisons for total infant mortality are examined for the US censuses of 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990; and more detailed period- and broad cause-specific rates are presented for 1990. A pronounced inverse association is found between income status and infant mortality for whites, but not for non-whites. Non-white post-neonatal death rates were higher for the lowest income area, but for neonatal mortality, total infant deaths, and exogenous and endogenous cause-specific death rates, there was no discernible socioeconomic differential. It is concluded that low income whites and non-whites at all income levels have infant mortality rates that are substantially higher than the overall rate for the population. Policy implications are discussed. (UNITED STATES, INFANT MORTALITY, RACES, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS)
97.55.6 - English - José Edgardo DIPIERRI and Emma ALFARO, Cátedra de Antropología Biológica I, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy (Argentina)
Geographical variation and evolution of tertiary sexual equilibrium in the Province of Jujuy, Argentina (p. 85-87)
The tertiary sex ratio, as measured by the masculinity index, was examined in four regions of the Province of Jujuy in north-west Argentina over a period from 1869 to 1991. The results showed that inter-regional, as well as age group differences in MI existed which could be related to changing social and economic conditions in this area over the last two centuries. (ARGENTINA, SEX RATIO, HISTORY)
97.55.7 - English - Farhat YUSUF and Stefania SIEDLECKY, Demographic Research Group, School of Economic and Financial Studies, Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia)
Family formation patterns among migrant women in Sydney (p. 89-99)
A demographic survey among a probability sample of 980 married migrant women was carried out in Sydney in 1988. The sample included 507 Lebanese, 250 Turkish and 223 Vietnamese women. The study revealed differences in family formation patterns within and between the three groups and between them and the general population. Family size had declined among all three groups compared with their family of origin, and it was clear that the younger women would not achieve the same family sizes as the older women. Migrant women tended to marry earlier than the general population and to start their families earlier. While they showed a strong preference for their children to marry within their own ethnic and religious group, nearly one-third said it was up to the choice of the individual. Overall, the future family size of younger migrant women is expected to converge towards the Australian norm. Migrant families are in a state of transition between two cultures which needs to be recognised by health and family planning service providers. (AUSTRALIA, MARRIED WOMEN, IMMIGRANTS, FAMILY SIZE)
97.55.8 - English - L. P. SINGH and G. A. HARRISON, Institute of Biological Anthropology, University of Oxford (U.K.)
Impact of migration, environment and socioeconomic conditions on the physique of Sikhs (p. 101-116)
This study is based on a cross-sectional sample of 459 Sikh adults, male and female, from three castes representing three levels of socioeconomic affluence. The sedentes group stayed all their lives in the native state of Punjab, India; the migrant group completed their active physical growth in the Punjab and left for the UK at around 20 years of age. The pattern of stature, weight, BMI and skinfolds in both groups reflects their level of socioeconomic affluence in their native Punjab. In the migrants, the caste differences in the mass measures largely disappear, but the differences in the skeletal dimensions remain. Both male and female migrants are heavier than their sedente counterparts and the male migrants have substantially higher amounts of subcutaneous fat. The change in weight, BMI and skinfolds in the migrants is inversely proportional to the original values of these variables in the native settings. Male sedentes and migrants are not statistically significantly different in stature, but the female migrants are taller than their sedente peers in all three castes. In a multivariate analysis, caste remains the most significant factor in the skeletal variables; in the mass characters, both caste and migration are statistically significant factors; age explains very little of the variation. (INDIA, ETHNIC GROUPS, ANTHROPOMETRY, NON-MIGRANTS, MIGRANTS)
APRIL 1996 - VOLUME 28, NUMBER 2
97.55.9 - English - Siân L. CURTIS, Macro International, Calverton, Maryland (U.S.A.), and Fiona STEELE, Department of Social Statistics, University of Southampton (U.K.)
Variations in familial neonatal mortality risks in four countries (p. 141-159)
This paper investigates variations in the strength and structure of familial association in neonatal mortality risks in four populations: Bolivia, Kenya, Peru, and Tanzania. Exploratory analyses of the structure of the familial association are presented for each population. Random effects logistic models are then used to estimate the strength of familial association in neonatal mortality risks using a standard set of control variables. The results suggest that the strength of familial association in neonatal mortality risks is quite similar in these four populations which would be consistent with a biological explanation for the association. However, some differences were found, particularly in the form of the association in Peru, which may suggest at least a small role of other factors. (BOLIVIA, KENYA, PERU, TANZANIA, NEONATAL MORTALITY, FAMILY ENVIRONMENT)
97.55.10 - English - M. M. RAHMAN, International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management, M. KABIR, Department of Statistics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka (Bangladesh), and R. AMIN, Institute of Urban Research, Morgan State University, Baltimore (U.S.A.)
Relationship between survival status of first child and subsequent child death (p. 185-191)
This paper examines the association between infant mortality of the first born and subsequent children using data from rural Bangladesh collected during the period 1971-82. It shows that birth spacing and age of mother at the time of the second birth are important predictors of the survival status of the first child. The findings are discussed in terms of policy implications. (BANGLADESH, INFANT MORTALITY, BIRTH ORDER, MORTALITY DETERMINANTS)
97.55.11 - English - Sylvia KIRCHENGAST and Eike-Meinrad WINKLER, Institute for Human Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1091 Vienna (Austria)
Differential fertility and body build in !Kung San and Kavango females from Northern Namibia (p. 193-210)
The study examines the impact of body build on differential fertility patterns in 93 !Kung San and 85 Kavango females from northern Namibia. In both groups shorter females had more offspring, but also more dead offspring, than taller females. The interaction between body weight and fertility was different in both groups and may be due to different nursing behaviour. There was a positive relationship between the typical pedomorphy and fertility in the !Kung San, and directional selection processes may be important. (NAMIBIA, DIFFERENTIAL FERTILITY, ETHNIC GROUPS, ANTHROPOMETRY)
97.55.12 - English - Jeanne NOBLE, Center for Latin American Studies, and Malcolm POTTS, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California (U.S.A.)
The fertility transition in Cuba and the Federal Republic of Korea: The impact of organised family planning (p. 211-225)
South Korea and Cuba are dissimilar in religion, economy, culture and attitudes toward premarital sexual relations. In 1960, Korea instituted a national family planning programme to combat rapid population growth. Cuba explicitly rejected Malthusian policies, but made family planning universally available in 1974 in response to health needs. Both countries have undergone rapid fertility declines and today have less than replacement level fertility. Both countries have also used a similar mixture of methods, including high prevalence of female sterilisation. Abortion has played a major role in he fertility decline of both countries, rising in the first half of the fertility transition and then falling, although remaining a significant variable in the second half. It is concluded that access to contraception, voluntary sterilisation, and safe abortion has a direct impact on fertility and has been associated with a rapid fall in family size in two very different countries. (KOREA (REPUBLIC OF), CUBA, FERTILITY DECLINE, FERTILITY DETERMINANTS, FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMMES, COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS)
97.55.13 - English - A. BANKOLE, G. RODRIGUEZ and C. F. WESTOFF, Office of Population Research, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey (U.S.A.)
Mass media messages and reproductive behaviour in Nigeria (p. 227-239)
This paper examines the effects of exposure to mass media messages promoting family planning on the reproductive behaviour of married women in Nigeria using cross-sectional data. Longitudinal data are also used to ensure that exposure to media messages pre-dates the indicators of reproductive behaviour. Cross-sectional analysis suggests that: (1) contraceptive use and intention are positively associated with exposure to mass media messages, and (2) women who are exposed to media messages are more likely to desire fewer children than those who are not exposed to such messages. Similarly, analysis of the longitudinal data shows that exposure to mass media messages is a significant predictor of contraceptive use. Thus, exposure to mass media messages about family planning may be a powerful tool for influencing reproductive behaviour in Nigeria. (NIGERIA, FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMMES, REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR, MASS COMMUNICATION, FERTILITY DETERMINANTS)
97.55.14 - English - Carlos Alberto PETTA, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of Campinas (Brazil), Melissa McPHEETERS and I-Cheng CHI, Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (U.S.A.)
Intrauterine devices: Learning from the past and looking to the future (p. 241-252)
This paper reviews the historical development of the IUD, describing the challenges and successes, and attempts to offer a balanced perspective for family planning service workers today. Modern IUDs are an important component of family planning services and an excellent contraceptive choice for properly screened women, providing contraception that is safe, effective, long lasting and cost effective. Potential research strategies for the future are also discussed. (IUD, HISTORY, RESEARCH)
JULY 1996, VOLUME 28, NUMBER 3
97.55.15 - English - M. Mujibur RAHMAN, Department of Statistics, University of Chittagong (Bangladesh), M. Nurul ISLAM and M. Mazharul ISLAM, Department of Statistics, University of Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Users of traditional methods of contraception in Bangladesh: 1981-91 (p. 257-264)
This paper examines the changing patterns of knowledge, attitude and use of traditional methods of contraception, compared to modern methods, over the last five contraceptive prevalence surveys in Bangladesh (1981-91). The results show that knowledge of at least one method of family planning is universal in Bangladesh and usage is higher at all ages for women who are using modern methods than for those who are using traditional methods. Educated women and those in employment are more likely to use modern contraceptive methods. (BANGLADESH, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE, TRADITIONAL CONTRACEPTION, KNOWLEDGE OF CONTRACEPTIVES)
97.55.16 - English - Mehrab Ali KHAN, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Research, Bangladesh, GPO Box 128, Dhaka-1000 (Bangladesh)
Factors affecting use of contraception in Matlab, Bangladesh (p. 265-279)
This study examines the relationship between family planning, perceived availability of contraceptives, and sociodemographic factors in rural Bangladesh. Data are from the 1990 KAP survey in the Matlab treatment and comparison areas, using a sample of about 8500 married women of reproductive age. The contraceptive prevalence rate was 57% in the treatment area but substantially lower in the comparison area where mainly traditional methods of family planning were used by women who did not know of a source of supply of contraceptives. Education has no effect on contraceptive use in the treatment area but in the comparison area, modest but consistent differentials in use by level of education were found. Number of living children is the best predictor for contraceptive use, followed by number of living sons, and the attitude of respondents and their husbands towards family planning. (BANGLADESH, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE, KAP SURVEYS, CONTRACEPTIVE DISTRIBUTION)
97.55.17 - English - Adansi A. AMANKWAA, Department of Corrections, Tallahassee, FL (U.S.A.)
Prior and proximate causes of infant survival in Ghana, with special attention to polygyny (p. 281-295)
This study examines the role of marriage form in infant mortality and tests the relative efrects and mechanisms through which polygyny affects infant survival. A sample of infants born in the 5 years preceding the 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey was used. A causal model was constructed and polygyny was found to be an important mediating factor in understanding infant survival. The findings highlight the relevance of family structure (polygyny) as an intervening factor, but also reveal the complex role of ethnicity, dietary supplement and birth interval in accounting for infant survival. (GHANA, INFANT MORTALITY, MORTALITY TRENDS, POLYGAMY)
97.55.18 - English - Nashid KAMAL, Centre for Population Studies, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London (U.K.)
Influence of family head's reproductive behaviour on the use of modern contraceptive methods by other members of the family in rural Bangladesh (p. 297-303)
A study in Bangladesh showed that the probability of use of modern contraception by eligible family members of a household increases significantly if the household head himself is a user. Multinomial logistic regression showed that contraceptive use was also significantly related with maternal age, parity, education, socioeconomic status and experience of child mortality. Inclusion of ever use of modern contraceptives by the family head or his wife, showed family head's religiosity to be a significant predictor of use, apart from his age and parity, and after controlling for socioeconomic correlates. (BANGLADESH, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE, HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD)
97.55.19 - English - Abdul WAHAB, Government Degree College, Matta, Swat, NWFP (Pakistan), and Mahmud AHMAD, Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (Pakistan)
Biosocial perspective of consanguineous marriages in rural and urban Swat, Pakistan (p. 305-313)
Consanguineous marriages in two population samples, one rural and one urban, from Swat (Pakistan) were studied. The frequency of consanguineous marriages was found to be 37.13% and 31.11%, and mean inbreeding coefficients were calculated as 0.0168 and 0.0162, for the rural and urban populations respectively. The most frequent type of marriage was between first cousins, in both samples. Among first cousin marriages, those with father's brother's daughter were predominant. Mean inbreeding coefficient was higher for higher socioeconomic groups in both samples. Differences by ethnic and educational groups were also found. Contrary to previous studies, a significant increase in the incidence of consanguineous marriages over the years has been observed. The incidence of premature mortality was significantly higher only in the offspring of first cousin marriages. Significantly higher incidence of morbidity in the offspring of consanguineous marriages was also observed. (PAKISTAN, CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGE, RURAL ENVIRONMENT, URBAN ENVIRONMENT, SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIFFERENTIALS)
97.55.20 - English - Gobopamang LETAMO, Department of Demography, University of Botswana, Gaborone (Botswana)
Contributions of the proximate determinants to fertility change in Botswana (p. 325-338)
This study uses Bongaarts' model to examine the relative contributions of three proximate determinants (non-marriage, contraceptive use and postpartum infecundability) to fertility change using data from the 1984 and 1988 Botswana Family and Health Surveys. Breast-feeding is shown to be the most important proximate determinant of fertility, followed by contraceptive use, and finally non-marriage, both in 1984 and 1988. However, contraceptive use increased between 1984 and 1988, leading to fertility decline over this period. Marriage is the least important proximate determinant of fertility, probably due to the high prevalence of premarital childbearing. Other factors such as induced abortion could have played a major role in the fertility decline but their effect could not be estimated due to lack of accurate data. (BOTSWANA, FERTILITY DECLINE, FERTILITY DETERMINANTS, INTERMEDIATE VARIABLES)
97.55.21 - English - A. BENER, Department of Community Medicine, Y. M. ABDULRAZZACQ and A. DAWODU, Department of Paediatrics, UAE University, Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates)
Sociodemographic risk factors associated with low birthweight in United Arab Emirates (p. 339-346)
This case-control study was undertaken to determine sociodemographic risk factors for low birth weight in AI-Ain (United Arab Emirates) over a 12-month period in 1992-93. A total of 3485 live births occurred of which 293 (8.4%) were low birth weight. The risk factors considered were mother's occupation, house conditions, place of residence (urban or rural), maternal smoking habits, antenatal care, availability of help in the home, maternal BMI and educational status. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that mother's occupation, maternal smoking, antenatal care, and lack of help in the home were associated with increased risk of low birth weight. (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, BIRTH WEIGHT, RISK)
97.55.22 - English - P. R. Andrew HINDE and Akim J. MTURI, Department of Social Statistics, University of Southampton (U.K.)
Social and economic factors related to breast-feeding durations in Tanzania (p. 347-354)
Some social and economic factors related to breast-feeding durations in Tanzania are analysed using current status data taken from the 1991-92 Tanzanian Demographic and Health Survey. Proportional hazards and proportional odds models are estimated. The results show that breast-feeding durations vary according to the region of residence of the mother and child (and whether they are living in a rural or an urban area), the age of the mother at the time of the birth, the order of the birth, and the mother's religion. (TANZANIA, DURATION OF LACTATION)
97.55.23 - English - Dominique HAUGHTON, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts (U.S.A.), and Jonathan HAUGHTON, Department of Economics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (U.S.A.)
Using a mixture model to detect son preference in Vietnam (p. 355-365)
Son preference is strong in Vietnam, according to attitudinal surveys and studies of contraceptive prevalence and birth hazards. These techniques assume a single model is valid for all families, but it is more plausible that son preference is found for some, but not all, families. Heterogeneous preferences may be addressed with a mixture model. This paper specifies and estimates a two-Weibull regression model, applied to the interval between the second and third births. The data come from the Vietnam Living Standards Survey of 1992-93. Applying information criteria, graphs, and martingale-based residuals, the two-Weibull model is found to fit better than a one-Weibull model. Roughly half of parents have son preference and, curiously, a propensity for fewer children. The other group has more children, no son preference, and is colourless in the sense that the birth interval is difficult to predict on the basis of the regressors used. (VIET NAM, SEX PREFERENCE, PROPORTIONAL HAZARD MODELS, METHODOLOGY)
97.55.24 - English - Nguyen Minh THANG, Vietnam National Committee on Population and Family Planning, Hanoi (Vietnam), and Ingrid SWENSON, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (U.S.A.)
Variations in Vietnamese marriages, births and infant deaths by months of the Julian calendar and years of the Vietnamese and Chinese astrological calendars (p. 367-377)
The timing of births and marriages in Vietnam appears to have some statistically significant relationships with the signs of the Chinese and Vietnamese astrological calendars. Years considered to be good years have significantly more births and marriages than years that are not considered as desirable. Births and marriages also have some significant variations with seasons of the year. Infant deaths do not appear to have any significant relationships with the astrological signs although infant mortality has some significant relationships with seasons of the year. The findings indicate that there is some purposeful planning for marriages and births to coincide with optimal times defined in the astrological calendars. (VIET NAM, MARRIAGE, BIRTH, SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS, POPULAR CULTURE)
OCTOBER 1996, VOLUME 28, NUMBER 4
Issue Dedicated to Proceedings of the Galton Institute Symposium
on Biological and Social Aspects of Intelligence
JANUARY 1997 - VOLUME 29, NUMBER 1
97.55.25 - English - Michael P. DUNNE, Nicholas G. MARTIN, Dixie J. STATHAM, Theresa PANGAN, Epidemiology Unit, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland (Australia), Pamela A. MADDEN and Andrew C. HEATH, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri (U.S.A.)
The consistency of recalled age at first sexual intercourse (p. 1-7)
It is widely believed that people can remember the age at which they first had sexual intercourse. Questions about age at onset are routinely asked in population sexual behaviour surveys and in clinical history-taking. However, there are limited test-retest data, especially with regard to individual differences in unreliable recall. In this study, telephone interviews and follow-ups an average of 15 months later were conducted with 570 non-virgin subjects aged between 28 and 73 years. Test-retest correlations for recalled age at first intercourse were 0.85 for females and 0.91 for males. Consistency was slightly lower among older people and women with a history of sexual abuse. There were no significant associations between consistency of recall and measures of personality, educational background or history of alcohol dependence and depression. (QUALITY OF DATA, COITUS, AGE, RECALL ERRORS)
97.55.26 - English - P. H. REDDY and B. MODELL, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College London Medical School, London WC1 E6HX (U.K.)
The Baigas of Madhya Pradesh: A demographic study (p. 19-31)
This paper outlines the demographic characteristics of the Baiga tribe, one of the most primitive of the aboriginal tribal groups of Central India. The Baiga population has grown steadily since the first anthropological study of the tribe in the 1930s. Age at menarche, age at marriage, breast-feeding, and time interval between marriage and first conception are natural. There are more females than males. Sub-tribe endogamy is common; consanguineous marriage is favoured (34% of marriages are between first cousins) and marital distance is low (mean 7.1 km). Though the mean menarcheal age is high (15.2 years), mean age at first marriage is low (16.6 years), giving a long reproductive period. (INDIA, TRIBES, DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES)
97.55.27 - English - Yaw OHENEBA-SAKYI, Department of Sociology, State University of New York, Postdam (U.S.A.), and Baffour K. TAKYI, Department of African Studies, State University of New York, Albany, NY (U.S.A.)
Effects of couples' characteristics on contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa: The Ghanaian example (p. 33-49)
Using data from the 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, this study examines couples' demographic and socioeconomic characteristics in the context of their attitudes towards family planning, and the impact of these factors on the use of contraceptives. The characteristics of the husbands and their influence on wives' behaviour illustrate the role of intra-household relations between men and women and their effect on fertility-related behaviour in patriarchal African societies. (GHANA, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE, INTERSPOUSE RELATIONSHIPS, ATTITUDE)
97.55.28 - English - Montserrat SALVAT, Marta VIGO, Laboratori d'Antropologia, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelone (Espagne), Helen MACBETH, Anthropology Unit, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 B0P (U.K.), and Jaume BERTRANPETIT, Laboratori d'Antropologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelone (Espagne)
Seasonality of marriages in Spanish and French parishes in the Cerdanya valley, eastern Pyrenees (p. 51-62)
The Cerdanya valley in the eastern Pyrenees has a physical unity into which a political frontier has been imposed to divide it. The social and cultural repercussions of this Franco-Spanish border have created obstacles to marriage which are not due to topography. Choice of month of marriage is under cultural control and the study of seasonality in marriages recorded in the registers of all the Cerdan parishes on both sides of the border demonstrated differences over time and between French and Spanish sectors. It is suggested that these changes demonstrate the process of distancing of the two populations. Cluster and correspondence analysis showed progressive differentiation of the seasonality patterns of the French and Spanish Cerdans despite the geographic unity of the valley. Sociocultural factors are presumed responsible. (FRANCE, SPAIN, FRONTIER POPULATION, NUPTIALITY, SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS)
97.55.29 - English - Christine McMURRAY, Graduate Studies in Demography, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 (Australia)
Measuring excess risk of child mortality: An exploration of DHS 1 for Burundi, Uganda and Zimbabwe (p. 73-91)
This paper proposes a new method of measuring excess risk of child mortality in cross-sectional surveys, which is applied to DHS I data for Burundi, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The expected child mortality experience is estimated for each mother on the basis of child's age, mother's age at child's birth and her parity, and compared with her observed experience. Mothers who exceed their expected child mortality experience and also had more than one child die are considered to have excess child mortality. Zimbabwe had the greatest concentration of child deaths as measured by a simple ratio of mothers to deaths, but when observed experience was compared with expected it had less than half as many excess deaths as Uganda and Burundi. In all three countries mother's education had a strong negative association with the risk of excess child mortality, and in Zimbabwe and Burundi there were significant regional differences. (BURUNDI, UGANDA, ZIMBABWE, EXCESS MORTALITY, INFANT MORTALITY, CHILD MORTALITY)
97.55.30 - English - L. JEYASEELAN and M. LAKSHMAN, Biostatistics Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu (India)
Risk factors for malnutrition in South Indian children (p. 93-100)
Protein energy malnutrition is a major health problem in India and it affects the growth and development of young children. This study investigated the impact of hygiene, housing and sociodemographic variables on acute malnutrition in children aged 5-7, living in urban and rural areas. Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that the overall prevalence of severe malnutrition was 8.2%. Older age, male sex, mother's poor education, lower family income, higher birth order of the child, use of dung or fire wood as fuel and defecation within the premises were significantly associated with malnutrition. Appropriate intervention programmes should be formulated to educate and support these families. (INDIA, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, MALNUTRITION)
97.55.31 - English - Manfusa SHAMS, Department of Psychology, University of Luton, Park Square, Luton LU1 3JU (U.K.), and Rory WILLIAMS, MRC Medical Sociology Unit, 6 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QQ (U.K.)
Generational changes in height and body mass differences between British Asians and the general population in Glasgow (p. 101-109)
A weighted total of 630 pupils aged 14-15 in Glasgow schools, about evenly divided between pupils of South Asian and non-Asian (overwhelmingly British) background, were measured for height and weight and compared with previous results for a similar Glasgow sample aged 30-40. Among 14-15-year-olds, British Asians were not so short compared with non-Asians as among 30-40-year-olds, especially females. Among 30-40-year-old Glasgow Asians only 7% were born in the UK, while among 14-15-year-old Glasgow Asians 86% were so born, indicating that they are the children of migrants. Generational differences in these comparisons cannot be due to positive selection of the migrant generation for height, and are attributed to improved environment, including nutrition and public health measures. This suggests the possibility of corresponding improvements in coronary and diabetic risk. (UNITED KINGDOM, ASIA, IMMIGRANTS, SECOND GENERATION MIGRANTS, ANTHROPOMETRY)
97.55.32 - English - Ray BLANCHARD and Anthony F. BOGAERT, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
The relation of closed birth intervals to the sex of the preceding child and the sexual orientation of the succeeding child (p. 111-118)
The study investigated whether homosexual men are, on average, born a shorter time after their next-older siblings than are heterosexual men. Because of mixed evidence that birth intervals are longer after a male child, the sex of the next-older sibling was included as a control variable. The probands were 220 heterosexual and 183 homosexual men with at least one older sibling examined in Southern Ontario in 1994-95. These completed a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire concerning their family background and other biodemographic information. The results showed that birth interval was negatively correlated with sibship size, positively correlated with maternal age, and uncorrelated with paternal age. They also confirmed that birth intervals are longer after a male than after a female child. The mean birth intervals preceding heterosexual and homosexual males, however, were virtually identical, indicating that the association of short birth intervals with decreased sex hormone levels in cord blood is unrelated to the development of sexual orientation. (CANADA, HOMOSEXUALITY, BIOLOGY)
APRIL 1997 - VOLUME 29, NUMBER 2
97.55.33 - English - E. O. TAWIAH, Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon (Ghana)
Factors affecting contraceptive use in Ghana (p. 141-149)
The relationships between selected demographic and socioeconomic variables and current use status of contraception were examined using logistic regression technique. Information on current contraceptive use was provided by 3156 out of 4488 currently married women aged 15-49 interviewed in the 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Respondents' approval of family planning emerged as the most important predictor of current contraceptive use, followed by discussion of family planning with partner and level of education. As a policy measure, information, education and communication programmes on family planning should be intensified, particularly in rural areas. Female education, at least up to secondary level, should be given top priority. (GHANA, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE, FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMMES, IEC)
97.55.34 - English - Susan SCOTT and C. J. DUNCAN, Department of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX (U.K.)
Interacting factors affecting illegitimacy in preindustrial Northern England (p. 151-169)
Illegitimacy in a historic, single community at Penrith, Cumbria (1557-1812), has been studied using aggregative analysis, family reconstitution and time series analysis. This population was living under extreme conditions of hardship. Long, medium and short wavelength cycles in the rate of illegitimacy have been identified by time series analysis; each represents a different response to social and economic pressures. In a complex interaction of events, the peaks of the cycles in wheat prices were associated with rises in adult mortality which promoted an influx of migrants and a concomitant rise in illegitimacy. The association between immigration and illegitimacy was particularly noticeable after the mortality crises of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Children of immigrant families also tended to produce illegitimate offspring. Native and immigrant families responded differently to extrinsic fluctuations, and variations in their reproductive behaviour were probably related to access to resources. (ENGLAND, HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY, ILLEGITIMATE FERTILITY, IMMIGRATION, BUSINESS CYCLES)
97.55.35 - English - YASMIN, Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DZ (U.K.), J. M. NADU, Department of Anthropology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, Andhra Pradesh (Inde), and C. G. N. MASCIE-TAYLOR, Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge (U.K.)
Consanguinity and its relationship to differential fertility and mortality in the Kotia: A tribal population of Andhra Pradesh, India (p. 171-180)
Data on patterns of marriage, differential fertility and mortality were collected from 211 Kotia women residing in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Consanguineous marriages made up just over a quarter of the total, and of these, father's sister's daughter (FSD) were more common than mother's brother's daughter (MBD). The mean inbreeding coefficient for the sample (F) was 0.0172. Women in consanguineous marriages had a lower mean number of total conceptions, live births and living offspring (net fertility) than women in non-consanguineous marriages. Significant heterogeneity was found in the means of living offspring for FSD, MBD and non-consanguineous couples, but not for conceptions and live births. (INDIA, CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGE, DIFFERENTIAL FERTILITY, CHILD SURVIVAL)
97.55.36 - English - Eugene K. CAMPBELL, Department of Demography, University of Botswana (Botswana), and Puni G. CAMPBELL, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Gaborone (Botswana)
Family size and sex preferences and eventual fertility in Botswana (p. 191-204)
Botswana is one of the sub-Saharan countries where actual fertility has declined. This study examines the fertility preferences of both men and women and shows that fertility intentions have a significant influence on future fertility behaviour. Fertility preferences are relatively low and there is no significant difference between those of men and women. Men's preference for sons influences desired family size and eventual fertility. For women as well as men, child survival is an important factor. Women's income is also influential. (BOTSWANA, FERTILITY DETERMINANTS, SEX PREFERENCE, DESIRED FAMILY SIZE, COMPLETED FERTILITY)
97.55.37 - English - Clara GARCIA-MORO, D. I. TOJA, Antropologia, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (Spain), and Phillip L. WALKER, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA (U.S.A.)
Marriage patterns of California's early Spanish-Mexican colonists (1742-1876) (p. 205-217)
Marriage patterns of California's eighteenth and nineteenth century Spanish-Mexican families are analysed using data from genealogies and mission records. A shortage of women among the military based colonists led to an unusual marriage pattern with a large age differential between husbands and wives. The average age at marriage was 18.4 years for women and 28.4 years for men. Spatial mobility was high for both sexes, particularly for men. More husbands than wives were born in Mexico. The Monterey presidial district of central California was the birthplace of a disproportionate number of husbands and the southern California districts were a source of wives. The transition between a founding population predominantly composed of Mexican immigrants and a population of native-born Californians occurred at the beginning of the nineteenth century. (UNITED STATES, MEXICO, HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY, IMMIGRANTS, NUPTIALITY)
97.55.38 - English - M. BARBERIS and P. D. HARVEY, DKT International, 1120 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 (U.S.A.)
Costs of family planning programmes in fourteen developing countries by method of service delivery (p. 219-233)
The cost effectiveness of several modes of family planning service delivery based on the cost per couple-year of protection (CYP), including commodity costs, is assessed for 1991-92 using programme and project data from fourteen developing countries (five in Africa, four in Asia, three in Latin America and two in the Middle East). More than 100 million CYP were provided through these family planning services during the 12 months studied. Sterilisation services provided both the highest volume (over 60% of total) and the lowest cost per CYP ($1.85). Social marketing programmes (CSM), delivering almost 9 million CYPs, had the next lowest cost per CYP on average ($2.14). Clinic-based services excluding sterilisation had an average cost of $6.10. The highest costs were for community-based distribution projects (0.7 million CYPs), which averaged $9.93, and clinic-based services with a community-based distribution component (almost 6 million CYPs), at a cost of $14.00 per CYP. Based on a weighted average, costs were lowest in the Middle East ($3.37 per CYP for all modes of delivery combined) and highest in Africa ($11.20). (DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMMES, COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS)
97.55.39 - English - M. MURPHY, Unit of Health Care Epidemiology, University of Oxford (U.K.), K. HEY, J. BROWN, Anglia and Oxford Regional Health Authority, Headington, Oxford (U.K.), B. WILLIS, J. D. ELLIS and D. BARLOW, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford (U.K.)
Infertility treatment and multiple birth rates in Britain, 1938-1994 (p. 235-243)
Trends in multiple birth rates are thought to have been substantially affected by subfertility treatments in the last 25 years, but there are few quantitative assessments of this. This paper examines trends in twin and higher multiple birth rates separately in Scotland, England and Wales and compares their course with corresponding multiple birth rates in the Oxford Record Linkage Study area, where the proportions following subfertility treatment are documented. National data on prescriptions for subfertility treatments reinforce the view that they have had a major effect on the trends, and currently perhaps 60% of triplet and higher order births and 15% of twins follow their use in Britain. (UNITED KINGDOM, MULTIPLE BIRTHS, SUBFERTILITY, MEDICAL CARE)
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