The types of fertility patterns in Europe

The aim of this paper is to present the types of fertility patterns that characterise European countries and their NUTS-1 units in the early 21st c. and in the near future. The types of fertility patterns were defined by ordering six five-year age groups of women aged from 15 to 44 years, according to the groups’ fertility rates (from the highest to the lowest). The analysis resulted in the creation of 14 different types of fertility patterns. Countries located in the same European region tend to have the same or similar type of fertility pattern. In most European countries, the postponement transition can be observed, and it will probably continue in the future. Differences between the fertility rates of the age groups were assessed within countries and between countries with the same type of fertility pattern by calculating the so-called fertility rate ratios. The paper also provides an overview of the main theories and concepts explaining the course of family formation processes in Europe and indicates factors that shape fertility patterns in European countries today.

Experiments in modeling recent Indian fertility pattern

Modelling is a well-established concept for understanding the typical shape and pattern of age-specific fertility. The distribution of India’s age-specific fertility rate (ASFR) is unimodal and positively skewed and is distinct from the ASFR of the developed countries. The existing models (P-K model, Gompertz model, Skew-normal model and G-P model considered here) that were developed, based on the experiences of the developed countries, failed to fit the single-year age-specific fertility pattern for India as a whole and for the six selected states. Our study has proposed four flexible models, to capture the diverse age pattern of fertility, observed in the Indian states. The proposed models were compared in three ways; among themselves, with the original models and with the popular Hadwiger model. The parameters of these proposed models were estimated through the Non-Linear Least Squares Method. To find the model with best fit, we used the corrected version of Akaike’s Information Criterion (AICc). Optimization of the four original models was successfully done. When the model was fitted to the empirical data of the 4th round of the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2015–2016, the results of this study showed that all the four proposed models outperform their corresponding original models and the Hadwiger model. When comparison among the proposed models was done, the Modified Gompertz Model provided the best fit for India, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Whereas, the Modified P-K model gave the best fit for West Bengal, Tripura and Karnataka. The Modified G-P model is the most suitable model for Punjab. Although our proposed models illustrated the fitting of ASFR for India as a whole and the selected six states only, it provides an important tool for the policymakers and the government authorities to project fertility rates and to understand the fertility transitions in India and various other states.

Efficiency of Different Diluents and Dilution Rates on the Fertilization Potential of Chicken Spermatozoa

Background: Artificial Insemination (AI) has been well established to obtain better fertility than natural mating. Semen extension and preservation play a major role in AI technique. The concentrated nature of chicken semen entails dilution of semen for easy handling and storage. With the availability of a wide range of extenders, exploring various extenders and dilution rates supplement the reproductive efficiency achieved through modern AI techniques.Methods: Pooled semen samples obtained from twenty White Leghorn breeder males were split equally into three portions, each for CARI poultry semen diluent, EK extender and Tselutin extender. At 1:2 dilution rate, the samples were subjected to sperm motility analysis from 0 to 96 h and AI was targeted at 0 and 24 h of semen collection. Fertility was assessed by candling of eggs collected from 2 to 8 days post insemination at 9th day of incubation. Further investigation of different dilution rates (1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8, 1:10, 1:12, 1:14, 1:16, 1:18, 1:20) on fertility of fresh semen was done using the superior diluent.Result: Upon analysis, sperm motility showed no significant difference among the diluents at 0 h storage while CARI poultry semen diluent showed superior motility (%) at the subsequent storage periods, followed by EK and Tselutin extender. Higher fertility (p less than 0.05) was expressed in the diluents of CARI and EK at 0 h storage, whereas CARI poultry semen diluent showed superior fertility pattern (p less than 0.05) followed by EK and least by Tselutin extender at 24 h semen storage. Further investigation of different dilution rates using CARI diluent, exhibited fertility (p less than 0.05) of 90% and higher at 1:2 and 1:4 dilutions, followed by 1:6 and 1:8 at 2 to 6 days of fertile period.

Investigating of Factors Affecting the Fertility Pattern of Arak City in 2018 With the Structural Equation Modeling

Background and Aim: Fertility pattern is one of the most important determinants of population fluctuations. Various individual and social factors affect this pattern. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the fertility pattern using the structural equation model. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 384 women were randomly selected from married women of childbearing age who referred to Taleghani, Valiasr, and Amir Al-Momenin hospitals in Arak as patients. After obtaining verbal consent to participate in the study, a researcher-made and valid questionnaire was completed for them. Structural equation modeling was used to measure the effect of important individual and social variables on fertility patterns. Data analysis and analysis were performed with AMOUS software version 11 and SPSS V. 22. Ethical Considerations: This study was registered with the ethics code IR.ARAKMU.REC.1396.4 by the Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences. Results: The Mean±SD age of the participants in the study was 40.03±11.19. The variables affecting the fertility pattern using the structural equation model included, respectively, the type of individual exercise, the method of contraception, the type of infertility treatment, and the duration of use of the contraceptive method. Conclusion: The results showed that physical activity, contraceptive method, and duration of use of this method and the type of infertility treatment were related to fertility pattern. By recognizing the factors affecting the fertility pattern and increasing the awareness of young couples, it is possible to help improve the fertility pattern.

Female autonomy and fertility pattern among women working in formal sector in Kathmandu valley

Background: Fertility rate is declining more among women with higher education around the world. This may be due to number of years spent for achieving higher degree, choice of work and age at marriage. With growing autonomy of urban women and late age at marriage increases high risk pregnancy and declines number of children leading to decrease in young population. So, this study was done to explore the fertility pattern and associated factors among working women at formal sectors. Methods: An observational study was done among women working at formal sectors within Kath­mandu valley. A respondent driven sampling was used to achieve total 101 sample size. The study period was October and November 2019. Results: Median age of the participants was 40 and median age at marriage was 26.62 years. The association between level of education and age at marriage was statistically significant. The median age of pregnancy of the participants were 27 years and 58.4% of women had only one live child. Average number of desired children was 1.69 whereas actual number of children was 1.32. The gap between desired and number of children is statistically significant. Only 35.6% reported to have used some form of contraceptive devices as the measure of family planning. Conclusions: Fertility behavior of working women is not completely influenced by their working status except for higher age at marriage, pregnancy and desired number of children which in long term may affect in the growth of country.

Social inequality, human development and fertility pattern in Brazil, 2000-2010

Objectives: to analyze the fertility pattern in Brazil and its relationship with human development in the Brazilian federation units in 2000 and 2010. Methods: this is an ecological study whose unit of analysis was the Brazilian Federative Units in the period of 2000 and 2010. The fertility was assessed considering the social (HDI), inequality, (Gini, Theil and Income Ratio) and fertility indicators (fertility rate and mean age of fertility). Results: Brazil has been experiencing a rapid fertility transition. The pattern of fertility curves changed in all Federative Units between 2000 and 2010, with a reduction in cusp size and postponement of fecundity. This change was more evident among the Federative Units with better development and lower inequality. The correlation between social and fertility indicators lost strength in the period, corroborating the transition hypothesis. Conclusions: there is a direct relation between the fecundity and inequality indicators, and inversing human development. Changes should be taken in consideration in the age structure of the population, as well as inequality indicators, for better planning in public policies for public health.