Contraception Across the Reproductive Life-Course

Abstract Objective: To test whether perception of insufficient milk (PIM) supply in the breast-feeding relationship of one child predicts how long mothers breast-feed subsequent children, and whether this association differs for first-time mothers v. mothers with previous children. Design: Secondary analysis of Infant Feeding Practices Study II (ordinary least squares regression) and Year 6 follow-up. Setting: Mailed, self-report survey of US mother–infant dyads, 2005–2012. Participants: Women pregnant with a singleton were recruited from a consumer opinion panel. Exclusion criteria included: mother age <18; infant born <5 lbs, born before 35 weeks or with extended NICU stay, and mother or infant diagnosed with condition that impacts feeding. A subsample with PIM data (n 1460) was analysed. Results: We found that women who weaned because of PIM with the index child stopped breast-feeding 5·7 weeks earlier than those who weaned due to other reasons (4·9 weeks earlier for multiparas, P < 0·001; 7·1 weeks earlier for primiparas, P < 0·001). Using Year 6 follow-up data (n 350), we found subsequent child 1 weaned 9·2 weeks earlier if the mother experiences PIM as a multipara (P = 0·020) and 10·6 weeks earlier if the mother experiences PIM as a primipara (P = 0·019). For subsequent child 2 (n 78), the magnitude of association was even larger, although insignificant due to low power. Conclusions: These findings indicate that PIM may carry forward in the reproductive life course, especially for first-time mothers. Perceptions of breast milk insufficiency and contributors to actual inadequate milk supply with the first child should be targeted, rather than intervening later in the reproductive life course.

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USING A REPRODUCTIVE LIFE COURSE APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD USE IN AUSTRALIA

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932009990381 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 43-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

EDITH GRAY ◽

PETER McDONALD

Keyword(s):

Life Course ◽

Contraceptive Method ◽

Contraceptive Use ◽

Intrauterine Device ◽

Oral Contraceptive Pill ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Fertility Intentions ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Reproductive Life ◽

Contraceptive Practice

SummaryThis paper examines contraceptive method use at different stages of the reproductive life course. Previous research on contraceptive practice in developed countries typically applies age as a proxy for reproductive history. While age is an essential and useful life course measure for understanding contraceptive use, investigations of contraceptive practice should also consider parity and fertility intentions, as they may be more accurate measures of reproductive life course stage. Analysis is based on data collected in the 2005 Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, a nationally representative sample of women of reproductive age (18–44). For women at risk of pregnancy, the most commonly used methods are easily reversed methods such as the oral contraceptive pill (30%) and condom (23%), medium-term methods such as the intrauterine device and implantation (5%) and permanent methods (7% tubal ligation and 9% vasectomy of partner). Logistic regression models are used to investigate the use of four popular contraceptive methods by parity, age and fertility intentions controlling for socio-demographic factors. The main findings indicate that the use of these methods varies substantially by the stage of a woman's reproductive life course: age, parity and fertility intentions are all associated with method use.

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Uncertainty in fertility intentions from a life course perspective: Which life course markers matter?

Journal of Family Research ◽

10.20377/jfr-426 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anne-Kristin Kuhnt ◽

Lara Minkus ◽

Petra Buhr

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Life Course ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Biological Clock ◽

Fertility Intentions ◽

Life Course Perspective ◽

Birth Cohorts ◽

Fertility Decision ◽

Reproductive Life ◽

Reproductive Life Span

Objective: The aim of this study is to extend our knowledge about uncertainty in fertility intentions from a life course perspective. We want to find out if life course markers such as economic circumstances, relationship status, family size, and the so-called “biological clock” (getting older) influence uncertainty in fertility intentions. Uncertainty in fertility intentions is the state in which individuals are not sure whether they will have (more) children. Background: Determining what drives uncertainty in fertility intentions may lead to a better understanding of fertility decision-making and its outcomes. Method: We use German panel data (German Family Panel, pairfam) for three birth cohorts (1971-73, 1981-83, 1991-93), and employ multinomial fixed-effects logit models as well as bivariate analyses based on waves 1 to 11. Results: Uncertainty in fertility intentions is volatile across an individual’s life course, serving as a transitional phase between certainly intending and not intending to have any (more) children. Approaching the end of the reproductive life span (getting older), separating from a partner, having two or more children, and, for men, subjective economic fears increase the odds of being uncertain. Conclusion: By showing that uncertainty in fertility intentions is a volatile concept and that relevant life course markers shape this volatility, we provide new insights into the process of fertility decision-making.

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An Evolutionary View of the Reproductive Life Course of Women

Evolution and Gender ◽

10.4324/9781315665832-17 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 143-158

Keyword(s):

Life Course ◽

Reproductive Life ◽

Evolutionary View

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Understanding How Immigrant Fertility Differentials Vary over the Reproductive Life Course

European Journal of Population / Revue européenne de Démographie ◽

10.1007/s10680-019-09536-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 465-498 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ben Wilson

Keyword(s):

Life Course ◽

Central Africa ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Cumulative Fertility ◽

Fertility Differentials ◽

Reproductive Life ◽

Age Patterns ◽

Cohort Fertility ◽

The Uk ◽

The Life Course

Abstract Studies of immigrant fertility differentials indicate that foreign-born women have more children than native-born women, at least for some origin groups. Yet little is known about variation in cumulative fertility differentials over the life course, including the extent to which this variation develops into completed fertility differentials. This research responds with an analysis of cumulative fertility differentials in the UK for a cohort of women born between 1942 and 1971. Findings are consistent with age-specific patterns that have been documented for immigrant groups in the UK, but underline the importance of taking a cohort perspective, which helps to distinguish between the tempo and quantum of fertility. Immigrants have significantly higher completed fertility than UK-born natives if they were born in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jamaica, or Western and Central Africa, but the profile of their cumulative fertility differentials—versus the UK-born—varies considerably over the life course, especially by age at migration. For example, women from Bangladesh and Pakistan have similar levels of cumulative fertility at age 40, but very different age patterns of cumulative fertility from ages 20–40. There is a consistent pattern of relatively delayed Pakistani fertility at early ages, especially for those arriving at later ages, but the same is not true for women from Bangladesh. Overall, these results imply that researchers should beware of variation in cohort fertility over the life course—with respect to both the quantum and tempo of fertility—when analysing immigrant childbearing, in addition to variation by origin and age at arrival.

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