Back to home pageAPRIL 1993 - VOLUME 25, NUMBER 2
93.55.27 - English - K.K. SINGH, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27516-3997 (U.S.A.) et al.
Analysis of Birth Intervals in India's Uttar Pradesh and Kerala States (p. 143-153)
Life tables of birth intervals and median birth intervals in two Indian states, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, were computed for several subgroups of the study population. Multivariate hazards modelling technique was used to examine the net effect of each of the variables studied. The results show a substantial effect of socioeconomic variables in child-spacing after controlling for the major intermediate variables. (INDIA, BIRTH INTERVALS, SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIFFERENTIAL)
93.55.28 - English - A RAHIM and B. RAM, Demography Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6 (Canada)
Emerging Patterns of Child-spacing in Canada (p. 155-167)
This study used data from the 1984 Family History Survey conducted by Statistics Canada to examine recent trends and patterns of child-spacing among currently married women. Life table and proportional hazards estimates show that Canadian women, particularly those in younger age groups with higher education and longer work experience, start having children late, but have subsequent children rather quickly. This suggests that such women tend to complete childbearing within a compressed time period. (CANADA, BIRTH INTERVALS)
93.55.29 - English - Carolyn MAKINSON, Andrew W. MELLON Foundation, New York (U.S.A.)
Estimates of Adult Mortality in Burundi (p. 169-186)
Adult mortality in Burundi during the 1970s and 1980s is estimated using data from the 1987 Demographic and Health Suvrey (DHS). Estimates from traditional indirect methods are comprared with those from the inter-survey method using data on the number of years since the respondent's parent died. Life expectancy at birth was estimated as 48.55 years for males and 51.23 years for females. (BURUNDI, ADULT MORTALITY, ESTIMATES, EXPECTATION OF LIFE AT BIRTH)
93.55.30 - English - Kathleen FORD, Department of Population Planning and International Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (U.S.A.)
Breast-feeding and Child Health in the United States (p. 187-194)
This paper evaluates the influence of breast-feeding on infectious and allergic diseases in infants and children through an analysis of data from a large national sample of US children. It controls for a large number of maternal and child health, demographic, and socioeconomic variables which have been shown to affect feeding patterns, and it includes several aspects of the feeding pattern in addition to breast-feeding. The results suggest that breast-fedding provides some protection against pneumonia and otitis media in the United States while early introduction of formula may have a separate and negative effect. (UNITED STATES, BREAST FEEDING, IMMUNIZATION)
93.55.31 - English - Robert J. MAGNANI, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 (U.S.A.) et al.
Breast-feeding, Water and Sanitation, and Childhood Malnutrition in the Philippines (p. 195-211)
This study examines effects and interactions of socioeconomic status, access to water supply and sanitation, and breast-feeding practices in relation to child growth in two provincial cities in the Philippines. Multivariate analysis identified food expenditure per head, education of the household head and gender of the child as significant predictors of nutritional status. The duration of partial and full breast-feeding was negatively (though non-significantly) associated with growth. Sanitation facilities and breast-feeding are, however, important determinants during the first year of life. Among children over one year of age, socioeconomic variables and gender are the most important predictors. Breast-feeding is shown to provide more important health benefits for children in lower income households. The need for further studies on the causes of gender differences in nutritional status was apparent. (PHILIPPINES, BREAST FEEDING, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, WATER SUPPLY, SANITATION, MALNUTRITION)
93.55.32 - English - Vijaya KRISHNAN, 11247-79 Avenue, Edmonton T6G 0P2 (Canada)
Gender of Children and Contraceptive Use (p. 213-221)
In 1984, half of married/cohabiting Canadian women aged 18-49 years were using contraception, with sterilisation being the most prevalent method. This study, using data from the 1984 Canadian Fertility Survey of 5,315 women aged 18-49 years, found that there was a preference for sons. Women with two sons are more likely to use contraception than those who have had two daughters; the gender of children may have a weak effect on contraceptive behaviour of Canadian couples at higher parities. Sociocultural factors (e.g. education, religion, religiosity) were also found to influence contraceptive behaviour. (CANADA, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE, SEX PREFERENCE)
93.55.33 - English - Abate MAMMO, 129 E Hanover Street, New Jersey State Department of Health, Trenton (U.S.A.)
Factors Responsible for Childhood Mortality Variation in Rural Ethiopia (p. 223-238)
This paper uses the 1981 National Rural Demographic Survey to document childhood mortality variations in rural areas of Ethiopia. Four significant findings are highlighted. (1) Health status of parents is identified as an important determinant of childhood mortality. (2) Religion, region of residence and ehtnicity interact in their effects on childhood mortality and the effect of ethnicity varies in different regions for the same religion; in some areas ethnicity may serve as a proxy for economic and cultural differences. (3) Childhood mortality is inversely related to literacy status of parents, which may also reflect socioeconomic status. (4) The data show a clear difference in childhood mortality between the famine-prone areas and the rest. (ETHIOPIA, INFANT MORTALITY, MORTALITY DETERMINANTS, DIFFERENTIAL MORTALITY)
93.55.34 - English - G. BRUNET, Département de Démographie et Génétique, Institut Européen des Génomutations, CNRS URA 1171, Faculté de Médecine Grange-Blanche, Lyon (France) et al.
Diffusion of a Particular 4.1(-) Hereditary Elliptocytosis Allele in the French Northern Alps (p. 239-247)
Heretozygous 4.1(-) hereditary elliptocytosis results from the absence of one haploid set of protein 4.1, a major component of the red cell skeleton. Two successive epidemiological investigations revealed 15 probands in the French Northern Alps. The frequency of this disease seems to be very high in four small villages isolated in the Aravis mountains. The genealogical study shows that 11 probands share common ancestors who lived eight or ten generations ago in these villages. Thus there was probably a founder effect from one pair of ancestors, strengthened by endogamy. In contrast, four probands originate from another area and are not genealogically related. Recent results in molecular genetics support the present data. (FRANCE, HEREDITARY DISEASES, GENEALOGY)
93.55.35 - English - Ronald H. GRAY, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (U.S.A.) et al.
Evaluation of Natural Family Planning Programmes in Liberia and Zambia (p. 249-258)
Studies to evaluate use-effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of natural family planning (NFP) were conducted in Liberia and Zambia. The Liberian programme provided uni-purpose NFP services to 1,055 clients mainly in rural areas; the Zambian programme provided NFP services integrated with MCH to 2,709 clients predominantly in urban areas. The one-year life table continuation and unplanned pregnancy rates were 78.9 and 4.3 per 100 woman-years in Liberia, compared to 71.2 and 8.9 in Zambia. However, high rates of loss to follow-up mandate caution in interpretation of these results, especially in Zambia. More women progressed to autonomous NFP use in Liberia (58%) than in Zambia (35.3%). However, programme costs per couple-year protection were lower in Zambia (US$25.7) than in Liberia (US$47.1). Costs per couple-year protection were higher during learning than autonomy, and declined over time. These studies suggest than NFP programmes can achieve acceptable use- and cost-effectiveness in Africa. (LIBERIA, ZAMBIA, NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING, PROGRAMME EVALUATION)
93.55.36 - English - Craig T. NAGOSHI, Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe (U.S.A.)
Family Background, Cognitive Abilities, and Personality as Predictors of Education and Occupational Attainment Across Two Generations (p. 259-276)
This study reports on the relative influences of parental attainment and cognitive ability and subjects' own cognitive ability, personality, and social attitudes on the educational and occupational attainments and incomes of 183 Generation 3 subjects of Caucasian ancestry and 186 of Japanese ancestry originally tested in 1972-76 in the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition (HFSC) and re-tested in 1987-88. In contrast to earlier reports of sex differences in the influence of Generation 2 attainment and on Generation 3 attainment when these offspring were younger, family background had a trivial influence and own cognitive ability had a substantial influence on educational attainment for both racial/ethnic groups and both sexes. For income, however, own cognitive ability was only a significant predictor for male subjects. Within-family correlational analyses also supported this sex difference in influences on attainment. (UNITED STATES, SCHOOL SUCCESS, OCCUPATIONAL LIFE, SEX DIFFERENTIALS, SECOND GENERATION MIGRANTS, ETHNIC ORIGIN)
JULY 1993 - VOLUME 25, NUMBER 3
93.55.37 - English - Ingrid E. SWENSON, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (U.S.A.), Nguyen MINH THANG, Pham BICH SAN, Vu QUI NHAM and Vu DUY MAN
Factors Influencing Infant Mortality in Vietnam (p. 285-302)
Selected determinants of overall infant mortality in Vietnam were examined using data from the 1988 Vietnam Demographic and Health Survey, and factors underlying neonatal and post-neonatal mortality were also compared. Effects of community development characteristics, including health care, were studied by logistic regression analysis in a subsample of rural children from the 1990 Vietnam Accessibility of Contraceptives Survey. Infant neonatal and post-neonatal mortality rates showed comparable distributions by birth order, maternal age, pregnancy intervals, mother's education and urban-rural residence. Rates were highest among first order births, births after an interval of less than 12 months, births to illiterate mothers and to those aged under 21 or over 35 years of age. Logistic regression analysis showed that the most significant predictor of infant mortality was residence in a province where overall infant mortality was over 40 per 1000 live births. In the rural subsample, availability of public transport was the most persistent community development predictor of infant mortality. Reasons for the low infant mortality rates in Vietnam compared to countries with similar levels of economic development are discussed. (VIET NAM, MORTALITY DETERMINANTS, INFANT MORTALITY, NEONATAL MORTALITY, POST-NEONATAL MORTALITY)
93.55.38 - English - Nguyen LUC, Nguyen MINH THANG, National Committee for Population and Family Planning in Vietnam (Vietnam), Ingrid SWENSON, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (U.S.A.), and Pham BICH SAN, Institute of Sociology, Hanoi (Vietnam)
Selected Determinants of Fertility in Vietnam: Age at Marriage, Marriage to First Birth Interval and Age at First Birth (p. 303-310)
Data from the 4 172 women aged 15-49 interviewed in the 1988 Vietnamese Demographic and Health Survey were used to examine age at marriage, marriage to first birth intervals and age at first birth. Differences between urban and rural areas, northern and southern provinces and by education of the women were analysed. The majority of the women had their first birth before age 20, but women with secondary education had a significantly higher age at first birth than those with little or no education, and women from the north had a significantly higher age at first birth than women from the south. Rural women and those with little or no education married at significantly younger ages than urban women and those with secondary education; these education effects were confirmed in a rural subsample of women. Women from rural areas and from the north had significantly shorter marriage to first birth intervals than urban women and those from the south, but there were no significant effects related to education. (VIET NAM, AGE AT MARRIAGE, FIRST BIRTH INTERVAL, MATERNAL AGE, RURAL-URBAN DIFFERENTIALS, LEVELS OF EDUCATION)
93.55.39 - English - Abul Kashem MAJUMDER and S. M. Shafiqul ISLAM, Department of Statistics, University of Chittagong, Chittagong (Bangladesh)
Socioeconomic and Environmental Determinants of Child Survival in Bangladesh (p. 311-318)
Differentials in child survival in Bangladesh have been examined using a number of socioeconomic and environmental factors on data from the 1989 Bangladesh Fertility Survey. Multivariate analysis reveals that both wife's and husband's education and household electricity show a significant positive association with child survival. The respondent's working status exerts a significant negative influence. Wife's education has a greater influence on child survival in Bangladesh than that of husband's education. (BANGLADESH, CHILD SURVIVAL, MORTALITY DETERMINANTS, SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIFFERENTIALS)
93.55.40 - English - W. Indralal DE SILVA, Demographic Training and Research Unit, University of Colombo, Colombo (Sri Lanka)
Influence of Son Preference on the Contraceptive Use and Fertility of Sri Lankan Women (p. 319-331)
The effect of moderate son preference on family size is analysed using data from the 1982 Sri Lanka Contraceptive Prevalence Survey whose respondents were followed-up in the 1985 Sri Lanka Contraceptive Survey. Reported reproductive intentions on desire for additional children were not always reflected in overall contraceptive use. Complicating factors were the use of modern and traditional methods and the role of induced abortion. Longitudinal observations of the 1982-85 period relating women's individual reproductive behaviour to their intentions show no consistent behavioural difference between those with and without sons. However, at any given parity, the proportion reporting at least one additional child born during the intersurvey period was higher among those women who intended to have at least one additional child than among those who wanted to stop childbearing. This analysis suggests that son preference finds expression more through reproductive intentions than through actual fertility behaviour in the follow-up period. (SRI LANKA, SEX PREFERENCE, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE, DESIRED FAMILY SIZE)
93.55.41 - English - Richard LAMPARD, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL (U.K.)
Availability of Marriage Partners in England and Wales: A Comparison of Three Measures (p. 333-350)
Measures of partner availability introduced by Goldman, Westoff & Hammerslough (1984) and by Veevers (1988) are described and a new measure of partner availability, the Iterated Availability Ratio, is introduced. The three of measures are applied to 1981 Census data for England and Wales and their abilities to predict regional variations in age-specific marriage rates are compared. (ENGLAND, WALES, MARRIAGEABLE POPULATION, METHODOLOGY, NUPTIALITY RATE, REGIONS)
93.55.42 - English - Abu Yusuf CHOUDHURY, Programme for the Introduction and Adaptation of Contraceptive Technology, and Abbas BHUIYA, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Effects of Biosocial Variables on Changes in Nutritional Status of Rural Bangladeshi Children, Pre- and Post-monsoon Flooding (p. 351-357)
This study examined the effects of biosocial variables on changes in nutritional status of rural Bangladeshi children, aged less than 2 years, pre- and post-1987 monsoon flooding. Nutritional status was measured by weight for age: variables included were age, sex, sickness during 2 weeks preceding the survey, intake of vitamin A capsules, socioeconomic status of household, and mother's education. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed an adverse effect of flood on nutrition and the effect was dependent on sex of child and intake of vitamin A. After the flood the proportion of severely malnourished children was significantly greater among those who had not taken vitamin A. For boys the proportion with severe malnutrition increased after the flood and the increase was greater than for girls; however, boys always had a lower risk of severe malnutrition than girls. (BANGLADESH, MALNUTRITION, CHILD NUTRITION, SEX DIFFERENTIALS)
93.55.43 - English - Barry M. POPKIN, J. Brad SCHWARTZ, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (U.S.A.), David K. GUILKEY, Center for International Development, Research Triangle Institute, NC (U.S.A.), and Wilhelm FLIEGER, Office of Population Studies, University of San Carlos, Cebu City (Philippines)
Survival in the Perinatal Period: A Prospective Analysis (p. 359-370)
A prospective study of 3 080 Filipino mothers and non-twin births in 33 communities is used to study the determinants of mortality in week 1 postpartum. The results show significant nonlinear birth weight effects and the importance of environmental contamination, particularly for infants born by traditional methods at home, and several other intermediate and underlying determinants of perinatal mortality. The pathways through which important sociodemographic factors affect perinatal mortality are also presented. (PHILIPPINES, PERINATAL MORTALITY, BIRTH WEIGHT, POLLUTION, MORTALITY DETERMINANTS)
93.55.44 - English - Carla MAKHLOUF OBERMEYER, Department of Population and International Health, Eva DEYKIN, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Harvard School of Public Health, and Joseph POTTER, Department of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin (U.S.A.)
Paediatric Care and Immunisation Among Jordanian Children (p. 371-381)
This paper investigates the behavioural aspects of health care use for Jordanian children from birth to 3 years using data from a national survey. Statistical analyses indicate differences in the determinants of the use of paediatric care and immunisation: whereas immunisation coverage was already good in 1983 (and has improved subsequently), paediatric care is used for fewer than half of the children under 1 year of age. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the population, especially female education, and maternal health care use, are important determinants of these patterns of child health care. The absence of differences in paediatric care and immunisation by sex of the child are discussed. (JORDANIA, IMMUNIZATION, PAEDIATRICS, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH)
93.55.45 - English - Jon ANSON, Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba (Israel)
Regional Mortality Differences in Britain, 1931-87: A Two Dimensional Analysis (p. 383-395)
In a recent analysis, Illsley, Le Grand & Mullings argued that, over the years 1931-87, regional inequalities in mortality in Britain effectively disappeared for most age groups. The present study reanalyses their data, breaking regional life tables down into their two major components, the level of survivorship, and the shape of the mortality curve. It is shown that whereas there has been a consistent decline in regional inequalities in the level of mortality, there has not been a comparable convergence in the shape of the mortality curves. These shape differences, implying premature adult mortality, are now the major source of variation among the regions. (UNITED KINGDOM, DIFFERENTIAL MORTALITY, LIFE TABLES, MORTALITY TRENDS, REGIONS)
93.55.46 - English - Arthur R. JENSEN, School of Education, University of California, Berkeley (U.S.A.), and Patricia A. WHANG, Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, Auburn University, Alabama (U.S.A.)
Reaction Times and Intelligence: A Comparison of Chinese-American and Anglo-American Children (p. 397-410)
Chinese-American and Anglo-American school children were compared on a nonverbal test of intelligence (Raven's Progressive Matrices) and on twelve chronometric variables which measure the speed with which basic information processes (e.g. stimulus apprehension, decision, and discrimination) can be carried out. All of these tasks are correlated with psychometric intelligence. The two groups differed significantly on most of the variables, but the differences appear to be multidimensional and are not simply due to a group difference in psychometric intelligence, equivalent to about 5 IQ points in favour of the Chinese-Americans. The results are compared with those of Lynn and his colleagues on British, Japanese, and Hong Kong children, and both consistencies and inconsistencies are found. (UNITED STATES, STUDENTS, ETHNIC ORIGIN, INTELLIGENCE)
93.55.47 - English - Vijayan K. PILLAI and Donald L. YATES, Department of Sociology and Social Work, University of North Texas, Denton (U.S.A.)
Teenage Sexual Activity in Zambia: The Need for a Sex Education Policy (p. 411-414)
Data from a study of teenage sexual activity among secondary school girls show the need for a sex education policy as a first step in controlling teenage fertility in Zambia. A large proportion of teenage females enter into close relationships with males at young ages and a high proportion of young females have engaged in sexual intercourse. Most of these sexually active females do not use family planning methods even though a large proportion of them have heard of modern methods. The teenagers receive very little sex education from their parents and a modern institutional sex education programme is needed. (ZAMBIA, ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY, SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR, SEXUAL EDUCATION)
OCTOBER 1993 - VOLUME 25, NUMBER 4
93.55.48 - English - Carol M. WORTHMAN, Joy F. STALLINGS, Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta (U.S.A.), Carol L. JENKINS, and Daina LAI, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka (Papua New Guinea)
Attenuation of Nursing-Related Ovarian Suppression and High Fertility in Well-Nourished, Intensively Breast-Feeding Amele Women of Lowland Papua New Guinea (p. 425-443)
Intense, sustained nursing lengthens inter-birth intervals and is causally linked with low natural fertility. However, in traditional settings, the effects of such nursing on fertility are difficult to disentangle from those of nutrition. Results from a prospective, direct observational study of reproductive function in well-nourished Amele women who nurse intensively and persistently but who also have high fertility are here presented. Endocrine measures show that ovarian activity resumes by median 11.0 months postpartum. Median duration of postpartum amenorrhoea is 11.3 months, time to next conception is 19.0 months, and the inter-birth interval is 28.0 months. Average life time fertility is 6.8. High fertility in Amele women is due both to refractoriness of reproductive function to suckling stimuli, and to maintenance of equivalent age-specific fertility rates across the reproductive life span. (PAPUA NEW GUINEA, NATURAL FERTILITY, POST-PARTUM AMENORRHOEA, BREAST FEEDING, FEEDING)
93.55.49 - English - Khalida P. ZAKI, Social Science Center for Integrative Studies, and Nan E. JOHNSON, Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing (U.S.A.)
Does Women's Literacy Affect Desired Fertility and Contraceptive Use in Rural-Urban Pakistan? (p. 445-454)
The 1984-85 Pakistan Contraceptive Prevalence Survey showed that urban wives had more than twice the literacy rate of rural wives. The present study explored the relationship of the rural-urban gap in female literacy to differences in contraceptive use. In rural areas, literacy did not increase women's perceptions of having reached a "sufficient" number of living children, although the opposite was true for urban areas. Yet rural women with an "insufficient" number of living children were more likely to use contraception if they were literate, as did their urban counterparts. Thus, raising the literacy rate in rural Pakistan would not narrow the rural-urban gap in contraception to cease childbearing but would narrow the rural-urban gap in contraception used to space wanted births further apart. Recommendations for government policy are made. (PAKISTAN, LITERACY, RURAL-URBAN DIFFERENTIALS, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE)
93.55.50 - English - A.I. CHOWDHURY, Radheshyam BAIRAGI and Michael A. KOENIG, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Effects of Family Sex Composition on Fertility Preference and Behaviour in Rural Bangladesh (p. 455-464)
The effects of family sex composition on fertility preferences and behaviour during the period 1977-88 are examined using longitudinal data from Matlab, Bangladesh. The sex composition of living children was found to be systematically related to fertility preferences and behaviour, with a higher number of sons at each family size associated with a higher percentage of women wanting no more children, a higher percentage currently using contraception, and lower subsequent fertility. However, the highest percentage wanting no more children, using contraception and having lowest subsequent fertility was found among women who already had one daughter as well as at least one son. The effects of sex preference on fertility preferences and behaviour were measured rising an index developed by Arnold (1985). The results suggest that while sex preference remained largely unchanged during the study period, its effect on contraceptive use declined and its impact on actual fertility remained modest and fairly stable. (BANGLADESH, FAMILY COMPOSITION, SEX DISTRIBUTION, FERTILITY, CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE)
93.55.51 - English - Wai Ping LEONG, O.A.C. VIEGAS and S.S. RATNAM, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Premature Childbirth: Social and Behavioural Risks in Singapore (p. 465-472)
The associations of social and behavioural factors on preterm birth in Singapore were studied using hospital maternity records of 20,723 consecutive singleton births between January 1986 and November 1991. The overall proportion of preterm births was 3.6%, the rates for the Chinese, Malay and Indian groups being 3.2%, 3.8% and 4.9% respectively. Teenage mothers were at a higher risk of preterm labour compared to women aged 20-29 years. The incidence of preterm labour decreased with increasing educational status. Preterm births were six times more likely in women who had no antenatal care. Women who had three or more previous births were at a lower risk compared to women who had none. (SINGAPORE, PREMATURE BIRTH, DIFFERENTIAL FERTILITY)
93.55.52 - English - Francis J. SICHONA, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (U.S.A.)
The Polygyny-Fertility Hypothesis Revisited: The Situation in Ghana (p. 473-482)
Re-examination of the polygyny-fertility hypothesis, by multiple regression analysis of the 1988 Ghana DHS data, reveals that polygyny has no effect on the number of children ever born; i.e. polygynously married women are as fertile as those monogamously married. Husband's age has no significant role in determining the number of children ever born to a woman. (GHANA, POLYGAMY, FERTILITY)
93.55.53 - English - Uche C. ISIUGO-ABANIHE, Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan (Nigeria), J. Akin EBIGBOLA and A.A. ADEWUYI, Demography and Social Statistics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Nigeria)
Urban Nuptiality Patterns and Marital Fertility in Nigeria (p. 483-498)
This study indicates that urban marital patterns in nine Nigerian cities influence fertility. Fertility is also influenced by age at marriage, region of residence, ethnicity and religion; education and employment lead to marriage delay and tend to conflict with childbearing by enhancing the status of women. (NIGERIA, URBAN ENVIRONMENT, NUPTIALITY, FERTILITY DETERMINANTS)
93.55.54 - English - Eiichi UCHIDA, Shunichi ARAKI and Katsuyuki MURATA, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan)
Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Marriage, Divorce and Birth Rates in a Japanese Population (p. 499-507)
The effects of low income, urbanisation and young age population on age-adjusted rates of first marriage, divorce and live birth among the Japanese population in 46 prefectures were analysed by stepwise regression for 1970 and for 1975. During this period, Japanese society experienced a drastic change from long-lasting economic growth to serious recession in 1973. In both 1970 and 1975, the first marriage rate for females was inversely related to low income and the divorce rates for both males and females were positively related to low income. The live birth rate was significantly related to low income, urbanisation and young age population only in 1975. The first marriage rate for females and the divorce rates for both sexes increased significantly but the first marriage rate for males and live birth rate significantly decreased between 1970 and 1975. These findings suggest that low income was the essential factor affecting first marriage for females and divorce for males and females. (JAPAN, URBAN ENVIRONMENT, NUPTIALITY, FERTILITY DETERMINANTS)
93.55.55 - English - Xingyan WEN, Demography Programme, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra (Australia)
Effect of Son Preference and Population Policy on Sex Ratios at Birth in Two Provinces of China (p. 509-521)
Two samples of births were used to examine the effect of son preference and population policy on sex ratios in Hebei and Shaanxi provinces of China. The results from all births to women aged 15-49 in the 1985 In-Depth Fertility Survey indicated a strong son preference but no clear policy impact on sex ratios at different birth orders. In a sample of selected births during 1975-84 to women aged 40 or under, the mixed influences of son preference and population policy were clearly reflected in the high and rising overall ratios at birth, and the increasing sex ratios with parity. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed. (CHINA, SEX RATIO, SEX PREFERENCE, POPULATION POLICY)
93.55.56 - English - Gianfranco BIONDI, Department of Animal Biology, University of Turin, Turin (Italy), Carmela T. GUGLIELMINO, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Pavia (Italy), Olga RICKARDS and Gian Franco DE STEFANO, Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University, Rome (Italy)
Marriage Distances Among the Afroamericans of Bluefields, Nicaragua (p. 523-530)
In a sample of 311 couples from the Afroamerican community of Bluefields, Eastern Nicaragua, the distribution of matrimonial distance shows a deviation from the leptokurtic rule. This results from assortative mating among the population. (NICARAGUA, ETHNIC GROUPS, MATE SELECTION, MODELS)
93.55.57 - English - T.C. DANN, Medical Center, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL (U.K.), and D.F. ROBERTS, Department of Human Genetics, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU (U.K.)
Menarcheal Age in University of Warwick Young Women (p. 531-538)
Data from the final 16 years of a 28-year ongoing survey of menarcheal age are reported. From 1971 onwards, recalled aged at menarche was recorded for all young women entering the University of Warwick. These data show that mean menarcheal age is increasing, a trend which is independent of father's occupation, family size, position of girl in the family, and physique. This continues a similar upward tendency noted in a preceding study in Swansea. It appears that the downward trend to earlier age at menarche of the earlier decades of this century has been replaced by one in the opposite direction. (UNITED KINGDOM, AGE AT MENARCHE)
93.55.58 - English - James S. LAWSON and Deborah BLACK, Sschool of Health Services Management, University of New South Wales, Sydney (Australia)
Socioeconomic Status: The Prime Indicator of Premature Death in Australia (p. 539-552)
The link between socioeconomic status and health has long been recognised. This study of deaths among Australian men aged 15-59 years demonstrates that during the 20-year period, 1966-86 the number of premature deaths was dramatically reduced among all socioeconomic groups, primarily as a result of falls in death rates due to heart disease, stroke and trauma. However, the marked differences in death rates according to social class remain, to the extent that if men of all social classes had the same mortality experiences as professional and technical workers the overall death rates for Australian men would be reduced by 60%, Socioeconomic status is the most important indicator of health status among Australians. (AUSTRALIA, ADULT MORTALITY, MALE MORTALITY, MORTALITY DETERMINANTS, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS)
93.55.59 - English - Mahmoud AL-SALEM and Nayel RAWASHDEH, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid (Jordan)
Consanguinity in North Jordan: Prevalence and Pattern (p. 553-556)
The rate of consanguineous mating in north Jordan was 63.7% with an average inbreeding coefficient of 0.0283. First cousin marriages were the most predominant type (58.5%); villagers showed higher levels than city dwellers. The level of female education did not influence consanguinity rate. (JORDAN, INBREEDING, NUPTIALITY)
93.55.60 - English - Ken OWEN, Human Sceinces Research Council, Pretoria (South Africa), and Richard LYNN, Psychology Department, University of Ulster, Coleraine (North Ireland)
Sex Differences in Primary Cognitive Abilities Among Blacks, Indians and Whites in South Africa (p. 557-560)
Sex differences are reported for samples of approximately 1000 16-year-old blacks, Indians and whites in South Africa on ten tests of cognitive ability. Males obtained significantly higher means on non-verbal reasoning, spatial and mechanical aptitude, and females obtained significantly higher means on perceptual speed and memory for meaning (except among the black sample). In general the sex differences in South Africa are consistent with those typically obtained in the United States. (SOUTH AFRICA, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, ADOLESCENTS, SEX DIFFERENTIALS, ETHNIC GROUPS)
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