Seasonal Birth Pattern in Sweden in Relation to Birth Order and Maternal Age

AbstractNation-wide data in Japan on births and prenatal deaths of 16 sets of quintuplets during 1974-1985 were analysed. Among the 16 sets, 3 sets were liveborn, 8 were stillborn, and 5 were mixed, with a stillbirth rate of 0.64 (51/80). Effects of sex, maternal age and birth order on the stillbirth rate were not considered because of the small sample size. Effects of gestational age and birthweight on stillbirth rate were also examined. The mean weight of the 40 quintuplet individuals was 1,048 g.

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Impact of High-Risk Fertility Behaviour on Under-five Mortality in Asia and Africa: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys

10.21203/rs.3.rs-29205/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rafi Amir-ud-Din ◽

Lubna Naz ◽

Anila Rubi ◽

Muhammad Usman ◽

Umesh Ghimire

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

High Risk ◽

Birth Order ◽

Birth Interval ◽

Health Surveys ◽

Maternal Age ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Index Child ◽

Under Five ◽

Fertility Behaviour

Abstract Background: Smaller or older maternal age, smaller inter-pregnancy birth interval, and higher birth order of the child are considered to be high-risk fertility behaviour (HRFB). Under-five mortality being disproportionately concentrated in Asia and Africa, this study analyses the association between HRFB and under-five mortality in selected Asian and African countries. Methods: This study used Integrated Public Microdata Series-Demographic and Health Surveys (IPUMS-DHS) data from 32 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia from 1986 to 2017 (N=1,467,728). Previous evidence hints at four markers of HRFB: women's age at the birth of index child <18 years or >34 years, smaller preceding birth interval (PBI) <24 months, and child's birth order >3. Using logistic regression, we analysed the change in the odds of under-five mortality as a result of i) exposure to HRFB individually, ii) exposure to any single HRFB risk factor, iii) exposure to multiple HRFB risk factors, and iv) exposure to specific combinations of HRFB risk factors. Results: Mother's age at the birth of index child <18 years and preceding birth interval (PBI) <24 months were significant risk factors of under-five mortality, while a child's birth order >3 was a protective factor against under-five mortality. Presence of any single HRFB was associated with 1.067 times higher risk of under-five mortality (OR = 1.067; 95% CI: 1.042 - 1.090; P < 0.001). Presence of multiple HRFBs was associated with 1.392 times higher risk of under-five mortality (OR = 1.392; 95% CI: 1.355 - 1.431; P < 0.001). Some specific combinations of risky fertility behaviour such as younger maternal age (<18 years) and smaller preceding birth interval (PBI <24) significantly increased the odds of under-five mortality.Conclusion: Younger maternal age and small preceding birth interval significantly increase the risk of under-five mortality. This highlights the need for effective legislation to curb child marriages and increased public investment in reproductive healthcare with a focus on higher contraceptive use for an optimal interpregnancy interval.

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Neural Tube Defects Decreasing in England

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.70.5.823 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 70 (5) ◽

pp. 823-823

Author(s):

J. R. Owens ◽

F. Harris

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Birth Order ◽

Neural Tube ◽

Neural Tube Defects ◽

Maternal Age ◽

Recurrence Risk ◽

Socioeconomic Group ◽

Similar Decrease

Stein and colleagues1 report a steadily decreasing incidence of myelomeningocele in the Brooklyn area of New York from 1968 to 1979, and which was independent of maternal age, birth order, and socioeconomic group. We have recently demonstrated a similar decrease in incidence of all neural tube defects in the conurbation of Liverpool and Bootle which commenced in the early 1970s, and which was more marked in anencephalus than myelomeningocele.2 The decrease in incidence was not due to smaller affected families as the recurrence risk for the period 1961 to 1969 was similar to that for 1970 to 1979.

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Impact of High-Risk Fertility Behaviour on Under-five Mortality in Asia and Africa: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys

10.21203/rs.3.rs-29205/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rafi Amir-ud-Din ◽

Lubna Naz ◽

Anila Rubi ◽

Muhammad Usman ◽

Umesh Ghimire

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

High Risk ◽

Birth Order ◽

Birth Interval ◽

Health Surveys ◽

Maternal Age ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Index Child ◽

Under Five ◽

Fertility Behaviour

Abstract Background: Younger or older maternal age, short inter-pregnancy birth interval, and higher birth order of the child are considered to be high-risk fertility behaviour (HRFB). Under-five mortality being disproportionately concentrated in Asia and Africa, this study analyses the association between HRFB and under-five mortality in selected Asian and African countries.Methods: This study used Integrated Public Microdata Series-Demographic and Health Surveys (IPUMS-DHS) data from 32 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia from 1986 to 2017 (N=1,467,728). Previous evidence hints at four markers of HRFB: women’s age at the birth of index child <18 years or >34 years, short preceding birth interval (PBI) <24 months, and child’s birth order >3. Using logistic regression, we analysed the change in the odds of under-five mortality as a result of i) exposure to HRFB individually, ii) exposure to any single HRFB risk factor, iii) exposure to multiple HRFB risk factors, and iv) exposure to specific combinations of HRFB risk factors. Results: Mother’s age at the birth of index child <18 years and preceding birth interval (PBI) <24 months were significant risk factors of under-five mortality, while a child’s birth order >3 was a protective factor against under-five mortality. Presence of any single HRFB was associated with 1.067 times higher risk of under-five mortality (OR = 1.067; 95% CI: 1.042 - 1.090; P < 0.001). Presence of multiple HRFBs was associated with 1.392 times higher risk of under-five mortality (OR = 1.392; 95% CI: 1.355 - 1.431; P < 0.001). Some specific combinations of risky fertility behaviour such as younger maternal age (<18 years) and short preceding birth interval (PBI <24) significantly increased the odds of under-five mortality.Conclusion: Younger maternal age and short preceding birth interval significantly increase the risk of under-five mortality. This highlights the need for effective legislation to curb child marriages and increased public investment in reproductive healthcare with a focus on higher contraceptive use for an optimal interpregnancy interval.

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