| 1. Title: Effects of female literacy on family size. Author: Chaudhry MA; Irshad S Source: Pakistan Journal of Medical Research. 2009 Jan-Mar;48(1):4-7. Abstract: Background: Education may indirectly lead to wider use of contraceptives and reduction in fertility. Female education reduces her vulnerability to unwanted pregnancies as a result of increased age at first marriage, being more aware of available contraceptive methods and by limiting family size. Objectives: To determine the effects of female literacy on family size and ascertain indirect effects of education on age at marriage, desired family size, use and knowledge of contraception and female autonomy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2005 and included 150 females from Outpatient Department of Combined Military Hospital and Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. The inclusion criteria was married females having children while educational status was an independent variable. Data was collected through convenience sampling using a questionnaire and was analysed using SPSS version II. Results: A total of 150 women were selected for the study, their marriage age ranged from 11-35 years. Forty two were uneducated and rest had some degree of education. Out of the total, 125 were using contraceptives. One hundred and thirty (87%) females desired small family and the fertility gap was higher in educated females. One hundred and thirty (87%) had knowledge of family planning with media being the strongest source of dissemination of information. One hundred and thirty-six (91%) females favored education of girl child. About 82% educated females had a small family with 3 or less children while only 18% had 4 or more children. Only 4 (10%) uneducated females had small family and rest 38 (90%) had a large family size. Conclusion: Educated women have fewer children, are more likely to use contraception and marry later. Improving educational status of women seems to be a cost effective intervention for controlling population growth in developing countries like Pakistan. Language: English Keywords: PAKISTAN | RESEARCH REPORT | CROSS SECTIONAL ANALYSIS | WOMEN | FAMILY SIZE | MARRIAGE AGE | LITERACY | KNOWLEDGE | CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE | FAMILY SIZE, DESIRED | Developing Countries | Asia, Southern | Asia | Research Methodology | Demographic Factors | Population | Family Characteristics | Family and Household | Sociocultural Factors | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Educational Status | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Contraception | Family Planning Document Number: 340190 |
2.  Peer Reviewed Title: Measuring trends in age at first sex and age at marriage in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. Author: Cremin I; Mushati P; Hallett T; Mupambireyi Z; Nyamukapa C; Garnett GP; Gregson S Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2009 Apr;85(Suppl 1):i34-i40. Abstract: The authors analyzed longitudinal data from three rounds of a population-based cohort in eastern Zimbabwe. Reports of age at first sex and age at marriage from 6,837 individuals attending multiple rounds were classified according to consistency. Survival analysis was used to identify trends in the timing of first sex and marriage. In this population, women initiate sex and enter marriage at younger ages than men but spend much less time between first sex and marriage. Among those surveyed between 1998 and 2005, median ages at first sex and first marriage were 18.5 years and 21.4 years for men and 18.2 years and 18.5 years, respectively, for women aged 15-54 years. High levels of reports of both age at first sex and age at marriage among those attending multiple surveys were found to be unreliable. Excluding reports identified as unreliable from these analyses did not alter the observed trends in either age at first sex or age at marriage. Tracing birth cohorts as they aged revealed reporting biases, particularly among the youngest cohorts. Comparisons by birth cohorts, which span a period of >40 years, indicate that median age at first sex has remained constant over time for women but has declined gradually for men. Although many reports of age at first sex and age at marriage were found to be unreliable, inclusion of such reports did not result in artificial generation or suppression of trends. Language: English Keywords: ZIMBABWE | RESEARCH REPORT | METHODOLOGICAL STUDIES | KAP SURVEYS | COHORT ANALYSIS | LONGITUDINAL STUDIES | TARGET POPULATION | FIRST INTERCOURSE | AGE FACTORS | MARRIAGE AGE | BIAS | SEX FACTORS | RELIABILITY | Developing Countries | Africa, Southern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Studies | Research Methodology | Surveys | Sampling Studies | Program Design | Programs | Organization and Administration | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Error Sources | Measurement Document Number: 340105 |
| 3. Peer Reviewed Title: Traces of the second demographic transition in four selected countries in Central and Eastern Europe: union formation as a demographic manifestation. Author: Hoem JM; Kostova D; Jasilioniene A; Muresan C Source: European Journal of Population. 2009 Aug;25(3):239-255. Abstract: Using data from the first round of the national Gender and Generations Surveys of Russia, Romania, and Bulgaria, and from a similar survey of Hungary, which were all collected in recent years, we study rates of entry into marital and non-marital unions. We have used elements from the narrative of the Second Demographic Transition (SDT) as a vehicle to give our analysis of the data from the four countries some coherence, and find what can be traces of the SDT in these countries. The details vary by country; in particular, latter-day developments in union formation patterns did not start at the same time in all countries, but in our assessment it began everywhere before communism fell, that is, before the societal transition to a market economy got underway in 1990. Language: English Keywords: RUSSIA | EUROPE | ROMANIA | HUNGARY | BULGARIA | RESEARCH REPORT | DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION | DATA ANALYSIS | MARRIAGE | LIVING ARRANGEMENTS | MARRIAGE AGE | Developing Countries | Asia, Northern | Asia | Developed Countries | Europe, Southeastern | Europe, Central | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Research Methodology | Nuptiality | Residence Characteristics | Population Distribution | Geographic Factors | Marriage Patterns Document Number: 339896 |
| 4. Peer Reviewed Title: Determinants of transitions to first sexual intercourse, marriage and pregnancy among female adolescents: evidence from South Nyanza, Kenya. Author: Magadi MA; Agwanda AO Source: Journal of Biosocial Science. 2009 May;41(3):409-27. Abstract: The timing of transitions to sexual activity, marriage and childbearing in sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing profound changes. This study investigates the determinants of adolescent transitions in South Nyanza, a socioeconomically deprived setting in Kenya where adolescent reproductive health is a particular concern. The analysis is based on Cox regression of timing of first sexual intercourse, first marriage and first pregnancy, using data from a survey of 1247 females aged 12-19 years. The results show that higher household socioeconomic status and educational attainment are associated with delayed onset of all three transition events. Furthermore, mother's higher educational attainment is protective for initiation of sexual intercourse while rural residence is protective for pregnancy experience. Other protective factors include communication with parents or with fellow girlfriends. However, discussing sexual matters with boyfriends, high internal locus of control, and gender bias are associated with early onset of the three transition events. Language: English Keywords: KENYA | RESEARCH REPORT | HEALTH SURVEYS | ADOLESCENTS, FEMALE | FIRST INTERCOURSE | MARRIAGE AGE | REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR | SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS | INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | Africa, Eastern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Developing Countries | Health | Adolescents | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Fertility | Population Dynamics | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Communication Document Number: 341401 |
| 5. Peer Reviewed Title: Trends in marriage and time spent single in sub-Saharan Africa: a comparative analysis of six population-based cohort studies and nine Demographic and Health Surveys. Author: Marston M; Slaymaker E; Cremin I; Floyd S; McGrath N; Kasamba I; Lutalo T; Nyirenda M; Ndyanabo A; Mupambireyi Z; Zaba B Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2009 Apr;85(Suppl 1):i64-i71. Abstract: The authors analyzed cohort data from Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Malawi and Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Life table methods were used to calculate median age at first sex (AFS), age at first marriage (AFM), and time spent single. In each study, two surveys were chosen to compare marital status by age and identify changes over time. Median AFS, AFM, and time spent single vary considerably among these populations. These three measures are underlying determinants of sexual risk and HIV infection, and they may partially explain the variation in HIV prevalence levels among these populations. Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, SUB SAHARAN | RESEARCH REPORT | KAP SURVEYS | COHORT ANALYSIS | CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISONS | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | UNMARRIED | MARRIAGE AGE | MARITAL STATUS | SEX FACTORS | Africa | Developing Countries | Surveys | Sampling Studies | Studies | Research Methodology | Comparative Studies | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Nuptiality | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Population Characteristics Document Number: 340109 |
6.  Title: Adolescent marriage and childbearing in India: current situation and recent trends. Author: Moore AM; Singh S; Ram U; Remez L; Audam S Source: New York, New York, Guttmacher Institute, 2009 Apr. 31 p. Abstract: Over the last decade and a half, little progress has been made in reducing the proportion of adolescents in India who become brides. While a range of socioeconomic and cultural factors may influence when a young woman gets married, past research has shown that areas where girls achieve higher levels of education have lower rates of early marriage. Keeping girls in school longer has also been found to delay early childbearing, which is rare outside of marriage in India. Language: English Keywords: INDIA | ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS | TECHNICAL REPORT | HEALTH SURVEYS | ADOLESCENTS, FEMALE | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | MARRIAGE AGE | MARRIAGE POSTPONEMENT | REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR | CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE | NEEDS | EDUCATIONAL STATUS | POLICY | LEGISLATION | Asia, Southern | Asia | Developing Countries | Geographic Factors | Population | Health | Adolescents | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Fertility | Population Dynamics | Contraception | Family Planning | Economic Factors | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors Document Number: 341003 |
| 7. Peer Reviewed Title: Are female orphans at risk for early marriage, early sexual debut, and teen pregnancy? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Author: Palermo T; Peterman A Source: Studies in Family Planning. 2009 Jun;40(2):101-112. Abstract: Female orphans are widely cited as being at risk for early marriage, early childbearing, and risky sexual behavior; however, to date no studies have examined these linkages using population-level data across multiple countries. This study draws from recent Demographic and Health Surveys from ten sub-Saharan African countries to examine the relationship between orphanhood status and measures of early marriage, early sexual debut, and teen pregnancy among adolescent girls aged 15 to 17. Results indicate that, overall, little association is found between orphanhood and early marriage or teen pregnancy, whereas evidence from seven countries supports associations between orphanhood and early sexual debut. Findings are sensitive to the use of multivariate models, type of orphan, and country setting. Orphanhood status alone may not be a sufficient targeting mechanism for addressing these outcomes in many countries; a broader, multidimensional targeting scheme including orphan type, schooling, and poverty measures would be more robust in identifying and aiding young women at risk. Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, SUB SAHARAN | RESEARCH REPORT | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | STATISTICAL REGRESSION | ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN | ADOLESCENTS, FEMALE | AIDS | MARRIAGE AGE | FIRST INTERCOURSE | ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY | RISK FACTORS | Africa | Developing Countries | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Data Analysis | Research Methodology | Family and Household | Sociocultural Factors | Adolescents | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | HIV Infections | Viral Diseases | Diseases | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Reproductive Behavior | Fertility | Health Document Number: 341894 |
| 8. Peer Reviewed Title: The effects of female genital mutilation on the onset of sexual activity and marriage in Guinea. Author: Van Rossem R; Gage AJ Source: Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2009 Apr;38(2):178-85. Abstract: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is almost universal in Guinea and practiced by all ethnic and religious groups and social classes, although the prevalence of the various types of FGM varies by socioeconomic group. A common explanation for FGM practices is that they contribute to the social control over female sexuality and enhance the marriageability of women. These claims were tested using the 1999 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (N = 6753). Event history techniques were used to examine the effect of type of FGM on the age at first sex and the age at first marriage and logistic regression for the effect of FGM on premarital sex. The results showed that the type of FGM had a significant zero-order effect on the age at first marriage and the prevalence of premarital sex, but not on the age at first sex. However, these effects became non-significant once controls for age, religion, ethnicity, education, residence, and wealth were added to the model. Variations in sexual behavior, therefore, were unrelated to type of FGM, but reflected differences in the social characteristics of the participants. Language: English Keywords: GUINEA | RESEARCH REPORT | KAP SURVEYS | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | EVENT HISTORY ANALYSIS | STATISTICAL REGRESSION | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | MARRIAGE PATTERNS | FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING | FIRST INTERCOURSE | AGE FACTORS | MARRIAGE AGE | PREMARITAL SEX BEHAVIOR | PREVALENCE | Developing Countries | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Surveys | Sampling Studies | Studies | Research Methodology | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Demographic Analysis | Data Analysis | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Marriage | Nuptiality | Harmful Traditional Practices | Traditional Health Practices | Culture | Sociocultural Factors | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Population Characteristics | Measurement Document Number: 331065 |
| 9. Peer Reviewed Title: Comparative assessment of the quality of age-at-event reporting in three HIV cohort studies in sub-Saharan Africa. Author: Wringe A; Cremin I; Todd J; McGrath N; Kasamba I; Herbst K; Mushore P; Zaba B; Slaymaker E Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2009 Apr;85(Suppl 1):i56-i63. Abstract: The authors assessed inconsistencies in reported age at first sex (AFS) and age at first marriage (AFM) in three African cohorts and considered the implications for interpreting trends in sexual and marital debut. They analyzed data from population-based cohort studies in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and South Africa with 3, 10, and 4 behavioral survey rounds, respectively. Three rounds over a similar time frame were selected from each site for comparative purposes. The consistency of AFS and AFM reports was assessed for each site by comparing responses made by participants in multiple surveys. Respondents were defined as unreliable if less than half of all their age-at-event reports were the same. Kaplan-Meier functions were used to describe the cumulative proportion (1) having had sex and (2) married by age, stratified by sex, birth cohort and site, to compare the influence of reporting inconsistencies on these estimates. Among participants attending all three comparable rounds, the percentage with unreliable AFS reports ranged from 30% among South African women to 56% among Zimbabwean men, with similar patterns observed for AFM. Inclusion of unreliable reports had little effect on estimates of median age-at-event in all sites. The authors concluded that although reporting quality is unlikely to affect comparisons of AFS and AFM between settings, care should be taken not to overinterpret small changes in reported age-at-event over time within each site. Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, SUB SAHARAN | RESEARCH REPORT | METHODOLOGICAL STUDIES | COMPARATIVE STUDIES | COHORT ANALYSIS | CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISONS | KAP SURVEYS | TARGET POPULATION | AGE FACTORS | DATA QUALITY | RELIABILITY | FIRST INTERCOURSE | MARRIAGE AGE | SEX FACTORS | Africa | Developing Countries | Studies | Research Methodology | Surveys | Sampling Studies | Program Design | Programs | Organization and Administration | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Data Analysis | Measurement | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality Document Number: 340108 |
| 10. Peer Reviewed Title: Influence of timing of sexual debut and first marriage on sexual behaviour in later life: findings from four survey rounds in the Kisesa cohort in northern Tanzania. Author: Zaba B; Isingo R; Wringe A; Marston M; Slaymaker E; Urassa M Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2009 Apr;85(Suppl 1):i20-i26. Abstract: The authors evaluated reports on age at first sex (AFS) and age at first marriage (AFM) from a Kisesa cohort study, 1994-2004, for consistency and for trends in median age-at-event and time spent single but sexually active in different birth cohorts. The association of these variables with marital stability and numbers of partners at later ages was explored using statistical regression techniques. Age at first sex and AFM were inconsistently reported by 32% and 33% of respondents, respectively, but there was no general tendency to report lower or higher ages at a later report date. In 10-year birth cohorts born between 1950-1959 and 1980-1989, male median AFS declined from 18.1 to 17.0 years and female median AFM rose from 16.2 to 16.6 years. Young people of both sexes currently spend longer time sexually active but unmarried than previously. Early marriage is statistically associated with remarriage and polygamy; longer time between sexual debut and marriage is associated with higher numbers of partners at later stages of life. Inconsistent reporting of age-at-event introduces noise but does not bias estimates of population-level indicators. Lengthening time spent single and sexually active suggests that men and women entering first marriage will have been exposed to increased numbers of non-marital partners. Successful youth interventions may also influence adult behavior. Language: English Keywords: TANZANIA | RESEARCH REPORT | METHODOLOGICAL STUDIES | STATISTICAL REGRESSION | KAP SURVEYS | COHORT ANALYSIS | YOUTH | MULTIPLE PARTNERS | SEX BEHAVIOR | FIRST INTERCOURSE | MARRIAGE | AGE FACTORS | DATA QUALITY | MARRIAGE AGE | TIME FACTORS | Developing Countries | Africa, Eastern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Studies | Research Methodology | Data Analysis | Surveys | Sampling Studies | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Sexual Partners | Behavior | Nuptiality | Marriage Patterns | Population Dynamics Document Number: 340103 |
| 11. Title: Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2006-07. Author: Pakistan. National Institute of Population Studies; Macro International. MEASURE DHS Source: Islamabad, Pakistan, National Institute of Population Studies, 2008 Jun. [400] p. Abstract: The 2006-07 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey is the fifth in a series of demographic surveys conducted by the National Institute of Population Studies since 1990. However, the PDHS 2006-07 is the second survey conducted as part of the worldwide Demographic and Health Surveys programme. The survey was conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Population Welfare and implemented by the National Institute of Population Studies. The 2006-07 PDHS supplements and complements the information collected through the censuses and demographic surveys conducted by the Federal Bureau of Statistics. It updates the available information on population and health issues, and provides guidance in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating health and population programmes in Pakistan. The results of the survey assist in the monitoring of the progress made towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The 2006-07 PDHS includes topics related to fertility levels and determinants, family planning, fertility preferences, infant, child and maternal mortality and their causes, maternal and child health, immunization and nutritional status of mothers and children, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and malaria. The 2006-07 PDHS also includes direct estimation of maternal mortality and its causes at the national level for the first time in Pakistan. The survey provides all other estimates for national, provincial and urban-rural domains. This being the fifth survey of its kind, there is considerable trend information on reproductive health, fertility and family planning over the past one and a half decades. The primary purpose of the 2006-07 PDHS is to furnish policymakers and planners with detailed information on fertility, family planning, infant, child and adult mortality, maternal and child health, nutrition, and knowledge of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: PAKISTAN | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | FERTILITY PREFERENCES | MARRIAGE AGE | FAMILY PLANNING | CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | INFANT MORTALITY | CHILD MORTALITY | MORTALITY | MATERNAL HEALTH | CHILD HEALTH | NUTRITION | MALARIA | HIV | AIDS | SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES | KNOWLEDGE | Asia, Southern | Asia | Developing Countries | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Fertility | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Contraception | Health | Parasitic Diseases | Diseases | HIV Infections | Viral Diseases | Reproductive Tract Infections | Infections | Sociocultural Factors Document Number: 327805 |
| 12. Peer Reviewed Title: HIV status and age at first marriage among women in Cameroon. Author: Adair T Source: Journal of Biosocial Science. 2008 Sep;40(5):743-760. Abstract: Recent research has highlighted the risk of HIV infection for married teenage women compared with their unmarried counterparts. This study assesses whether a relationship exists, for women who have completed their adolescence (age 20-29 years), between HIV status with age at first marriage and the length of time between first sex and first marriage. Multivariate analysis utilizing the nationally representative 2004 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey shows that late-marrying women and those with a longer period of pre-marital sex have the highest risk of HIV. Although women in urban areas overall marry later than their rural counterparts, the positive relationship between age at marriage and HIV risk is stronger in rural areas. The higher wealth status and greater number of lifetime sexual partners of late-marrying women contribute to their higher HIV risk. Given that the age at first marriage and the gap between first marriage and first sex have increased in recent years, focusing preventive efforts on late-marrying women will be of much importance in reducing HIV prevalence among females. (author's) Language: English Keywords: CAMEROON | RESEARCH REPORT | EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | ADOLESCENTS, FEMALE | MARRIAGE AGE | HIV INFECTIONS | CHILD MARRIAGE | FIRST INTERCOURSE | PREVALENCE | PREMARITAL SEX BEHAVIOR | RISK FACTORS | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS | Developing Countries | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Research Methodology | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Population | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Adolescents | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Viral Diseases | Diseases | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Measurement | Biology Document Number: 313960 |
| 13. Peer Reviewed Title: Differentials of fertility in North and South Gondar zones, northwest Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study. Author: Alene GD; Worku A Source: BMC Public Health. 2008;8:397. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Ethiopia is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa with an estimated population of 77.1 million in mid-2007. Uncontrolled fertility has adversely influenced the socio-economic, demographic and environmental situations of the country. It is one of the largest and poorest countries that, even in the midst of crisis, has maintained high levels of fertility. This study was aimed at investigating the most important factors influencing fertility behavior in Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study which included 2424 women aged 25 years and above was undertaken in the Amhara region of Northwest Ethiopia. The study subjects were grouped into high fertile and low fertile categories. There were 1011 and 1413 women in the high and low fertile groups, respectively. A multi-stage cluster sampling stratified by place of residence was employed to select the required study subjects. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Among the 25 variables considered in this study, only 9 of them were found significantly and independently associated with the level of fertility. Women with at least secondary education were at a lower risk of high fertility with OR = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.21 to 0.64) compared to those with no formal education. However, women with primary education did not show any significant difference when compared with the same baseline group. Age at first marriage was inversely associated with the number of children ever born alive. Place of residence, household expenditure, number of children who have died, attitude towards using contraceptives, women's knowledge on the safe period, and current marital status were the other variables that showed significant associations with the level of fertility. CONCLUSION: Female education beyond the primary level, reduced infant and child mortality, delayed marriage and correct knowledge on the safe period during the menstrual cycle were amongst the main factors that had a bearing on high fertility. Language: English Keywords: ETHIOPIA | RESEARCH REPORT | CROSS SECTIONAL ANALYSIS | WOMEN | FERTILITY RATE | MARRIAGE AGE | EDUCATIONAL STATUS | CHILD MORTALITY | MARITAL STATUS | Developing Countries | Africa, Eastern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Research Methodology | Demographic Factors | Population | Birth Rate | Fertility Measurements | Fertility | Population Dynamics | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Mortality Document Number: 329771 |
| 14. Peer Reviewed Title: Abortion index and mortality of offspring among women of different age, caste and population groups of north Indian Muslims. Author: Ara G; Siddique YH; Beg T; Afzal M Source: Journal of Biosocial Science. 2008 May;40(3):431-443. Abstract: The Muslims of Aligarh city are predominantly Sunnis, although there are also a considerable number of Shias. Among the Sunnis, approximately a quarter belong to Syed, Sheikh, Moghal and Pathan groups, and three-quarters belong to various lower biradaris. In the present study, 304 women attending the Primary Health Centre of the J. N. Medical College and Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh, were surveyed and the following recorded among Muslim women of high-rank (Ashraf) and low-rank (Ajlaf) castes: incidence of marriage, age of the mother at the time of marriage, present age of the mother, abortions, still births, prereproductive mortality and overall mortality. The Ashraf are comprised of the Sheikh, Syed and Pathan, whereas the Ajlafs have Qureshi, Saifi and Ansari biradaris. Maternal age was scored as above and below 45 years in each biradari. Significant effects of maternal age were seen on mortality of offspring, whereas populations did not show consistent differences, except when Ashrafs and Ajlafs were considered separately. The results show higher mortality and abortions for various groups. This may be due to various biological and socio-cultural factors, including hidden inbreeding in the remote past. (author's) Language: English Keywords: INDIA | RESEARCH REPORT | INCIDENCE | ETHNIC GROUPS | ISLAM | WOMEN | PRIMARY HEALTH CARE | HEALTH FACILITIES | MARRIAGE | AGE FACTORS | MARRIAGE AGE | ABORTION RATE | MATERNAL MORTALITY | SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS | FERTILITY RATE | DEATH RATE | Developing Countries | Asia, Southern | Asia | Measurement | Research Methodology | Cultural Background | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Religion | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Health | Nuptiality | Marriage Patterns | Fertility Control, Postconception | Family Planning | Mortality | Population Dynamics | Birth Rate | Fertility Measurements | Fertility Document Number: 325518 Notification |
| 15. Title: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and its relationship with hormonal contraceptive methods [letter] Author: Ashrafunnessa; Kamal M Source: Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin. 2008 Apr;34(1):33-5. Abstract: Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women worldwide and constitutes about 21- 35% of the female cancer in different areas of India and Bangladesh. It develops slowly from preinvasive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) to invasive cervical cancer (ICC). Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is considered as a major risk factor for its development3. Several studies found a significant association of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) with cervical cancer and the risk increased with duration of use4. Case-control studies concluded that the risk of cervical carcinogenesis increased with duration of use and the risk declined with time since last use5. Influence of some of the hormonal contraceptive methods in developing CIN was assessed among a married women population in Gynecological Outpatient Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: BANGLADESH | RESEARCH REPORT | CLINICAL RESEARCH | EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS | STATISTICAL REGRESSION | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | CASE CONTROL STUDIES | CERVICAL CANCER | HPV | ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES, SIDE EFFECTS | INJECTABLES | MATERNAL AGE | MARRIAGE AGE | Developing Countries | Asia, Southern | Asia | Research Methodology | Data Analysis | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Studies | Cancer | Neoplasms | Diseases | Viral Diseases | Contraceptive Safety | Safety | Public Health | Health | Contraceptive Methods | Contraception | Family Planning | Parental Age | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality Document Number: 329034 |
| 16. Peer Reviewed Title: How young is "too young"? Comparative perspectives on adolescent sexual, marital, and reproductive transitions. Author: Dixon-Mueller R Source: Studies in Family Planning. 2008 Dec;39(4):247-262. Abstract: This study puts forth three criteria for assessing the extent to which the timing of sexual, marital, and reproductive transitions among male and female adolescents could be considered "too young": (1) the physiological maturation of the body; (2) the cognitive capacity for making safe, informed, and voluntary decisions; and (3) institutionalized concepts of "old enough" for consent to sexual intercourse and marriage as reflected in legal frameworks and international standards. Expansion of the age grouping of adolescence is proposed, from the customary 15-19 into three age categories-early adolescence (ages 10-14, or 10-11 and 12-14), middle adolescence (15-17), and late adolescence (18-19)-to better capture the age-specific variations in the trajectories of male and female sexual, marital, and reproductive events. An application of the three adolescent development criteria to the timing of transitions observed in Demographic and Health Surveys in 64 developing countries leads to the conclusion that boys and girls aged 14 and younger are universally "too young" to make safe and consensual transitions; that 15-17-year-olds may or may not be too young, depending on their circumstances; and that 18-year-olds are generally "old enough." Policies and programs should focus on capacity building and the creation of an enabling environment for making safe and voluntary transitions among all age groups, but particularly among 10-14-year-olds, whose sexual and reproductive health and rights are so clearly at stake. Language: English Keywords: DEVELOPING COUNTRIES | RESEARCH REPORT | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | ADOLESCENTS | MINORS | PHYSIOLOGY | ADOLESCENT HEALTH | INTELLIGENCE | DECISION MAKING | AGE FACTORS | SEXUAL INTERCOURSE | PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT | MARRIAGE AGE | CHILD MARRIAGE | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Youth | Population Characteristics | Biology | Health | Personality | Psychological Factors | Behavior | Reproduction | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality Document Number: 328189 |
| 17. Peer Reviewed Title: Opinions on early-age marriage and marriage customs among Kurdish-speaking women in southeast Turkey. Author: Ertem M; Kocturk T Source: Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. 2008 Jul;34(3):147-152. Abstract: For women, marriage before the age of 18 years has adverse consequences for physical, mental and emotional well-being and constitutes a barrier for continued education. According to a national survey, about 50% of all women in Eastern Turkey were aged under 18 years at first marriage. This study explored women?s opinions and experiences of early marriage and culture-specific marriage customs in the province of Diyarbakir, a region of Turkey populated mostly by people of Kurdish ethnicity. A random sample of 966 women aged 15 years or older living in urban and rural areas of the province completed a questionnaire on age at marriage and social status. Qualitative data on women?s opinions and experiences were also collected through focus group interviews with 90 women. The frequency of early marriage ranged from 19% in the youngest age group to 63% in women aged 60 years or older. Analysis of focus group interviews through a qualitative modified content method showed that girls were considered marriageable some years after the menarche and considerations regarding the protection of family honour were key factors leading parents to arrange the early marriage of their daughters, sometimes without their consent. Some culture-specific marriage customs included cradle betrothal, cousin marriage and berdel (exchange of brides between two families). There is a need for public health and family planning workers to create greater awareness of the adverse consequences of early marriage through parental arrangements. (author's) Language: English Keywords: TURKEY | RESEARCH REPORT | QUESTIONNAIRES | FOCUS GROUPS | WOMEN | MARRIAGE AGE | MARRIAGE PATTERNS | ARRANGED MARRIAGE | CONSANGUINITY | CULTURE | ATTITUDES | Developing Countries | Europe, Southeastern | Europe | Data Collection | Research Methodology | Demographic Factors | Population | Marriage | Nuptiality | Genetics | Biology | Sociocultural Factors | Psychological Factors | Behavior Document Number: 327552 |
| 18. Peer Reviewed Title: The Netherlands: Childbearing within the context of a "Poldermodel" society. Author: Fokkema T; de Valk H; de Beer J; van Duin C Source: Demographic Research. 2008 Jul 1;19(21):743-794. Abstract: The Netherlands has seen a considerable decline of the period total fertility rate and delayed childbearing, just like all other European countries. The drop in fertility, however, has not been as sharp as in many other regions of Europe. The period total fertility rate in the Netherlands has stabilized since the late 1970s at around 1.6 children per woman, and it has even risen slightly since 1995. In addition, although the Netherlands has one of the oldest first-time mothers, completed fertility is still rather high compared to other European countries, suggesting a strong "catching up" of births by women in their thirties. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the main driving forces behind specific fertility trends in the Netherlands. Among other factors, it focuses on changing patterns of home leaving and union formation, declining partnership stability, and the growing acceptability and use of contraception. The chapter also looks at prolonged education, rising labor-force participation of women, economic uncertainties, the growing migrant population, and family policies. Data allowing, and to the extent possible, we examine the effects of these factors on decision-making about parenthood and the timing of childbearing. (author's) Language: English Keywords: NETHERLANDS | RESEARCH REPORT | FERTILITY DECLINE | DELAYED CHILDBEARING | TOTAL FERTILITY RATE | MARRIAGE AGE | ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY | ILLEGITIMACY | CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE | MATERNAL AGE | FAMILY SIZE | DIVORCE | LIVING ARRANGEMENTS | LABOR FORCE | WOMEN | SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS | Developed Countries | Europe, Western | Europe | Fertility Changes | Fertility | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Reproductive Behavior | Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Fertility Measurements | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Social Problems | Contraception | Family Planning | Parental Age | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Family Characteristics | Family and Household | Residence Characteristics | Population Distribution | Geographic Factors | Human Resources | Economic Factors Document Number: 327728 |
| 19. Title: Fertility changes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Author: Garenne MM Source: Calverton, Maryland, Macro International, 2008 Sep. 43 p. (USAID Contract No. GPO-C-00-03-00002-00DHS Comparative Reports No. 18) Abstract: This report provides an overview of major fertility trends in sub-Saharan Africa in the second half of the 20th century. It also presents the proximate determinants (factors that have a direct mechanical effect on fertility levels) and the socioeconomic correlates of these trends. Cohort and period fertility trends were constructed using World Fertility Survey (WFS) and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data sets for 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Cohort trends were derived from WFS and DHS data for some of the factors that affected fertility change: infertility, age at first marriage, education level, proportion Muslim, proportion Christian, proportion living in a polygynous union, and nutritional status. Period trends were derived for urbanization and income per capita from other sources. Cohort fertility was higher among women born in 1950 than in those born in 1930 but tended to decline in women born in later years. Changes in cohort fertility levels were small, on average. The mean number of children ever born to a woman by age 40 increased from 5.9 in women born in 1930 to 6.2 in women born in 1950 and decreased to 5.6 in women born in 1970. In most cases, the increase in cohort fertility was apparently due to a decline in infertility and, to a lesser extent, decreasing age at first marriage, which was associated with the spread of monotheist religions in the first half of the 20th century. Nutritional status did not have any identifiable impact on cohort fertility. Like cohort fertility, period fertility tended to rise from 1950 to 1975 and then fall until 2000 or later. On average, for the countries investigated, the total fertility rate at age 40 increased from 5.3 children per woman in 1950 to 6.2 in 1975, then declined to 4.9 in 2000. The decline in period fertility appeared to be due primarily to increasing contraceptive use and, to a lesser extent, rising age at first marriage and increasing urbanization. A regression model of the explanatory variables indicated that 37 percent of the decline was attributable to increased contraceptive use, 24 percent to decreased age at first marriage, and 16 percent to increased urbanization. These three variables correlated with level of education and, to a lesser extent, income per capita. The dynamics of the fertility decline were different in urban and rural areas. On average for the countries investigated, the trends in urban and rural areas started to split in approximately 1960. The date of onset of the fertility decline varied greatly by region and country, ranging from the early 1960s in the first urban areas to the late 1990s in the last rural areas. A few rural communities had not started the transition at the time covered by the last available survey. The speed of the fertility decline, approximately 1 child per decade, also varied markedly among countries, from 1.5 children per decade to less than 0.5 children per decade. In addition, a stall in fertility decline occurred in six of the countries investigated (Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar [urban areas], Nigeria, Rwanda-rural, Tanzania [rural areas]); in five of these countries, this stall occurred in 1995-2005. The pattern of the fertility decline in sub-Saharan Africa did not appear to be very different from that of many other countries in the world. However, the fertility decline in sub-Saharan Africa seems to have been somewhat more influenced by changing nuptiality patterns than elsewhere, and its relationship with socioeconomic correlates was somewhat less influenced by income levels and trends than other countries. The appendices present a detailed analysis of fertility trends by country, with information on trends in urban and rural areas, premarital and marital fertility, and periods of monotonic changes. Key Words: Fertility transition, fertility decline, fertility increase, fertility stall, infertility, contraception, age at marriage, proximate determinants, socioeconomic correlates, sub-Saharan Africa. Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, SUB SAHARAN | RESEARCH REPORT | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS | COHORT ANALYSIS | WORLD FERTILITY SURVEYS | CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISONS | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | FERTILITY CHANGES | INFERTILITY | MARRIAGE AGE | EDUCATIONAL STATUS | RELIGION | POLYGYNY | NUTRITION INDEXES | Africa | Developing Countries | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Research Methodology | Fertility Surveys | Fertility Measurements | Fertility | Comparative Studies | Studies | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Reproduction | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Nutrition | Health Document Number: 329999 |
| 20. Title: The impact of the labour market on the timing of marriage and births in Spain. Author: Gutierrez-Domenech M Source: Journal of Population Economics. 2008 Jan;21(1):83-110. Abstract: This paper investigates how education and the labour market affect Spanish individual decisions on the timing of marriage and births, using a Cox hazard approach. It disentangles men and women, and two groups, Cohort 1945-1960 and Cohort 1961-1977. Results show that female employment delays marriage in Cohort 1945-1960, but it has a reverse effect in Cohort 1961-1977. We also find evidence that employment is a barrier for family formation since employed women postpone births in both cohorts. The precarious Spanish labour markets, captured by female unemployment rates, delay family formation, especially by putting off marriage. Male unemployment, at the individual level, impacts negatively on fertility only through delaying marriage. (author's) Language: English Keywords: SPAIN | RESEARCH REPORT | STATISTICAL REGRESSION | MATHEMATICAL MODEL | LABOR FORCE | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | MACROECONOMIC FACTORS | EDUCATIONAL STATUS | MARRIAGE AGE | EMPLOYMENT | FAMILY SIZE | DELAYED CHILDBEARING | UNEMPLOYMENT | SEX FACTORS | MARRIAGE POSTPONEMENT | Europe, Southwestern | Europe | Developed Countries | Data Analysis | Research Methodology | Theoretical Models | Human Resources | Economic Factors | Economic Development | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Demographic Factors | Population | Family Characteristics | Family and Household | Sociocultural Factors | Reproductive Behavior | Fertility | Population Dynamics | Population Characteristics Document Number: 322757 |
| 21. Title: Marriage patterns in Palestine. Author: Jarallah Y Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2008 Oct. 6 p. (MENA Working Paper Series) Abstract: Marriage patterns in Palestine are unique compared with other countries in the region. Although most countries in the Middle East and North Africa are experiencing an increase in the age at marriage, early marriage in Palestine continues to be relatively high. About one in 10 Palestinian women ages 15 to 19 is married. Yet, an increasing number of women are delaying marriage and remaining single. In a society that favors marriage and children, it is essential to understand and address the needs of single women. Language: English Keywords: WEST BANK | RESEARCH REPORT | DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | EVER MARRIED | NEVER MARRIED | MARRIAGE PATTERNS | MARRIAGE AGE | ATTITUDES | CHILD MARRIAGE | MARRIAGE POSTPONEMENT | EDUCATIONAL STATUS | HOME ECONOMICS | PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT | WOMEN'S STATUS | Middle East | Developing Countries | Research Methodology | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Marital Status | Nuptiality | Demographic Factors | Population | Marriage | Psychological Factors | Behavior | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Microeconomic Factors | Child Rearing Document Number: 323120 |
| 22. Title: Should there be mandatory testing for HIV prior to marriage in India? Author: Malhotra R; Malhotra C; Sharma N Source: Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. 2008 Apr-Jun;5(2):70-4. Abstract: The National AIDS Prevention and Control Policy of the government of India states that testing for HIV infection should be voluntary in nature. But from time to time various state governments and the central government have announced their intent of introducing mandatory premarital testing. Though this intent has not yet been translated into action, we present our case against the adoption of such a policy by discussing various social and medical issues. These include the limited population that such a policy would target given the early age of marriage in India; issues related to its implementation considering the low marriage registration rates in India; potential of stigma and discrimination associated with it; issues with defining boundaries and the role of the state; limitations related to the HIV test itself in context of the policy, including the window period and the positive predictive value of the test; its limited impact in population groups at a high risk for HIV infection; its limited role in changing unsafe behaviours; its limited potential to enhance the empowerment of women; its conflict with existing human rights; and the adverse experience of other countries with a similar policy. Language: English Keywords: INDIA | CRITIQUE | EVALUATION | POLICYMAKERS | GOVERNMENT | HEALTH POLICY | HIV TESTING | MARRIAGE | SOCIAL POLICY | ETHICS | MARRIAGE AGE | STIGMA | SAFER SEX | HUMAN RIGHTS | WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT | Developing Countries | Asia, Southern | Asia | Administrative Personnel | Organization and Administration | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Policy | Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses | Examinations and Diagnoses | Medical Procedures | Medicine | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Health | Nuptiality | Demographic Factors | Population | Marriage Patterns | Social Problems | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Women's Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors Document Number: 328772 |
| 23. Title: Trends in contraceptive knowledge and use among adolescent married women in Malawi. Author: Muula AS Source: Croatian Medical Journal. 2008 Aug;49(4):561-3. Abstract: There is a growing interest in adolescent reproductive health. Teenage pregnancies are an important public health issue because they are associated with maternal, fetal, and neonatal adverse outcomes. Teenage girls who get pregnant are likely to drop out from school and teenage parents are unlikely to have the social and economic means to raise children. These, and many other reasons, justify the promotion of sexual abstinence among teenagers and/ or contraception. In the United States, it has been estimated that 82% of pregnancies in women aged 15 to 19 years are unintended. There is an interest in the prevention of pregnancy among unmarried adolescents, but much less in married ones. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: MALAWI | RESEARCH REPORT | KAP SURVEYS | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | LONGITUDINAL STUDIES | ADOLESCENTS, FEMALE | CURRENTLY MARRIED | CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE | KNOWLEDGE | MARRIAGE AGE | CONTRACEPTIVE PREVALENCE | AGE FACTORS | CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS CHOSEN | Africa, Southern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Developing Countries | Surveys | Sampling Studies | Studies | Research Methodology | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Adolescents | Youth | Population Characteristics | Marital Status | Nuptiality | Contraception | Family Planning | Sociocultural Factors | Marriage Patterns | Marriage Document Number: 328942 |
| 24. Peer Reviewed Title: Isolation and marriage patterns in four south Tyrolean villages (Italy) during the nineteenth century. Author: Riegler A; Marroni F; Pattaro C; Gueresi P; Pramstaller PP Source: Journal of Biosocial Science. 2008 Sep;40(5):787-791. Abstract: No information is currently available on the marriage patterns of German-speaking communities of the South Tyrol area. The aim of this study is to investigate the reproductive isolation of four South Tyrolean mountain villages during the 19th century. Data about 3953 marriages were drawn from existing pedigrees and completed with data from the parish registers of the studied villages to calculate the following indicators: age at marriage, endogamy, inbreeding from dispensations and from isonymy and repeated pairs of surnames among couples. The results show high levels of endogamy (78-87%) and an elevated age at marriage in all the studied villages. The percentages of consanguineous marriages (10-33%) vary considerably but result overall in relatively low inbreeding values (alpha 0.0015-0.0036; Ft 0.0098-0.0138). Levels of endogamy are consistent with the geographic characteristics of the area, while inbreeding values are lower than those observed in previous studies on Alpine communities. This is due to a low frequency of marriages between close relatives, probably related to the peculiar demographic and cultural characteristics of the studied populations that differentiate them from neighbouring Italian-speaking villages. Language: English Keywords: ITALY | RESEARCH REPORT | PARISH REGISTERS | MARRIAGE PATTERNS | CONSANGUINITY | MARRIAGE AGE | Developed Countries | Europe, Southern | Europe | Population Statistics | Research Methodology | Marriage | Nuptiality | Demographic Factors | Population | Genetics | Biology Document Number: 308368 |
| 25. Peer Reviewed Title: Risk preferences and the timing of marriage and childbearing. Author: Schmidt L Source: Demography. 2008 May;45(2):439-460. Abstract: The existing literature on marriage and fertility decisions pays little attention to the roles played by risk preferences and uncertainty. However, given uncertainty regarding the availability of suitable marriage partners, the ability to contracept, and the ability to conceive, women's risk preferences might be expected to play an important role in marriage and fertility timing decisions. By using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), the author finds that measured risk preferences have a significant effect on the timing of both marriage and fertility. Highly risk-tolerant women are more likely to delay marriage, consistent with either a search model of marriage or a risk-pooling explanation. In addition, risk preferences affect fertility timing in a way that differs by marital status and education, and that varies over the life cycle. Greater tolerance for risk leads to earlier births at young ages, consistent with these women being less likely to contracept effectively. In addition, as the subgroup of college-educated, unmarried women nears the end of their fertile periods, highly risk-tolerant women are likely to delay childbearing relative to their more risk-averse counterparts and are therefore less likely to become mothers. These findings may have broader implications for both individual and societal well-being. (author's) Language: English Keywords: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | RESEARCH REPORT | SURVEYS | WOMEN | RISK ASSESSMENT | DECISION MAKING | MARRIAGE AGE | FERTILITY | REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR | MARITAL STATUS | EDUCATIONAL STATUS | LIFE CYCLE | TIME FACTORS | PERCEPTION | Developed Countries | North America | Americas | Sampling Studies | Studies | Research Methodology | Demographic Factors | Population | Evaluation | Behavior | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Population Dynamics | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Family Research | Family and Household | Sociocultural Factors | Psychological Factors Document Number: 308649 |
| 26. Title: HIV and fertility decline in North-Central Namibia 1980 -- 2004. Author: Shemeikka R; Notkola V; Kuhanen J; Siiskonen H Source: Finnish Yearbook of Population Research. 2008;43:7-32. Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the development of fertility and the impact of HIV on this development in North-Central Namibia from 1980 to 2004. The main sources of data consisted of parish registers for eight Evangelical Lutheran congregations, the 1992 and 2000 Namibia Demographic and Health Surveys and the 1991 and 2001 population censuses. Developments infertility were studied using the total fertility rate (TFR), age-specific fertility rates (ASFR), and standardized fertility distributions. The results show that fertility declined from 5.0 in 1980-89 to 4.1 in 1990-99 and to 3.5 in 2000-04. Among women in the 25-29 age group and older, fertility declined, while fertility among adolescents increased. Both age at first marriage and premarital fertility increased during the study period. During the 1990s, HIV infection explained 25-29% of the decline in total fertility. If mortality continues to increase as a result of the HIV epidemic while fertility continues to decline, both because of HIV infection and for other societal reasons, the implications for future population growth rates and the country's demographic structure are pronounced. (author's) Language: English Keywords: NAMIBIA | RESEARCH REPORT | LONGITUDINAL STUDIES | EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | FERTILITY DECLINE | HIV INFECTIONS | PARISH REGISTERS | TOTAL FERTILITY RATE | AGE SPECIFIC FERTILITY RATE | MARRIAGE AGE | PREMARITAL PREGNANCY | FERTILITY DETERMINANTS | Developing Countries | Africa, Southern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Studies | Research Methodology | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Fertility Changes | Fertility | Viral Diseases | Diseases | Population Statistics | Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Fertility Measurements | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Reproductive Behavior Document Number: 326067 |
| 27. Title: Sexual and reproductive health status among young people in Nepal: opportunities and barriers for sexual health education and services utilization. Author: Simkhada RP; Van Teijlingen ER Source: Kathmandu University Medical Journal. 2008;6(2):248-256. Abstract: This article attempts to summarise the situation of sexual and reproductive health among young people in Nepal. Modernisation and social transformation are occurring rapidly in Nepalese society. Growing expansion of communication and transportation networks, urbanisation and in-migration of population to urban areas is creating a different sociocultural environment, which is conducive to more social interactions between young girls and boys in Nepal. Rising age at marriage has now opened a window of opportunity for pre-marital and unsafe sexual activity among young people in Nepal which creates risks of unwanted pregnancy, STIs/HIV and AIDS. Several socio-economic, demographic and cultural factors have been identified as encouraging factors for risk taking behaviours among young people. Improving access to youth friendly services, implementing peer education programmes for school and out of school going adolescents, developing effective Information, Communication and Education (IEC) materials and curricula have been highly suggested to improve the existing young people's sexual and reproductive health status. Language: English Keywords: NEPAL | LITERATURE REVIEW | EVALUATION | ADOLESCENTS | PEER EDUCATORS | SEX EDUCATION | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | ADOLESCENT HEALTH | MODERNIZATION | SOCIAL CHANGE | MARRIAGE AGE | SEX BEHAVIOR | RISK BEHAVIOR | CULTURE | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | Developing Countries | Asia, Southern | Asia | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Education | Health | Sociocultural Factors | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Behavior | Economic Factors Document Number: 328184 |
| 28. Title: What's in the gap?: factors associated with the interval between age at first sex and age at first marriage in Cameroon and their implications for reproductive health and women's empowerment. Author: Subaiya L; Johnson K Source: Calverton, Maryland, Macro International, MEASURE DHS, 2008. 24 p. (USAID Contract No. GPO-C-00-03-00002-00DHS Working Papers No. 43) Abstract: Recent research on reproductive and sexual health has focused on age at marriage as a determinant of an array of population and health outcomes. The authors propose that for many reproductive health concerns, it is not age at marriage that should be the focus of analysis but rather the number of years that have elapsed between sexual debut and marriage. This paper explores the factors associated with the length of the interval between initiation of sex and formation of a union in order to gain insight into this aspect of women's reproductive lives. Language: English Keywords: CAMEROON | RESEARCH REPORT | WOMEN | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | MARRIAGE AGE | FIRST INTERCOURSE | CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE | PREMARITAL SEX BEHAVIOR | AGE FACTORS | EDUCATION | MARRIAGE POSTPONEMENT | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Developing Countries | Demographic Factors | Population | Health | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Contraception | Family Planning | Population Characteristics Document Number: 329521 |
| 29. Peer Reviewed Title: Social context of premarital fertility in rural South-Africa. [Contexte social de la fécondité avant le mariage en Afrique du Sud rurale] Author: Zwang J; Garenne M Source: African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2008 Aug;12(2):98-110. Abstract: A qualitative study was conducted in Agincourt, a rural area of South Africa, to document the perceptions and attitudes towards premarital fertility and late marriage among young adults of both sexes. Two focus groups and 35 individual interviews were conducted among 17-30 year olds, randomly selected. Most interviewees perceived premarital fertility as undesirable, and a new phenomenon in a context of major social changes, in particular loss of authority of parents and increasing freedom of the youth. In contrast, late marriage was perceived as positive, by both sexes, primarily for economic reasons. Much stigma was associated with premarital fertility, from friends, institutions and families who occasionally apply mild or severe sanctions. Consequences of premarital fertility were numerous: school abandonment, economic adversity, health risks, stigmatization. In extreme cases, premarital fertility might lead to exclusion and deviant behavior. Premarital fertility was ultimately due to a lack of contraception among young women, and to refusal of abortion for religious reasons, and is associated with the risk of contracting STD's. French Abstract: Une étude qualitative a été menée à Agincourt en Afrique du Sud, pour documenter les perceptions et les attitudes envers la fécondité avant le mariage et le mariage tardif. Deux interviews au niveau de groupes cible et 35 interviews personnelles ont été recueillies auprès des gens âgés de 17 à 30. La plupart des gens interviewés ont perçu la fécondité avant le mariage comme étant désirée et comme un nouveau phénomène dans un contexte de transformations sociales importantes, surtout la perte de l'autorité des parents et la liberté croissante de la jeunesse. Par contre, ils ont apercu le mariage tardif comme positif, principalement pour des raisons économiques. Beaucoup de stigmate était lié à la fécondité avant le mariage de la part des amis, des institutions et des familles qui de temps en temps appliquent de légères sanctions. Les conséquences de la fécondité avant le mariage étaient nombreuses: l'abandon de l'école, l'adversité économique, les risques de santé, la stigmatisation. Dans des cas extrêmes, la fécondité avant le mariage peut entrainer l'exclusion et le comportement deviant. La fécondité avant le mariage a été finalement causée par un manque de contraception chez les jeunes femmes et à cause du refus de l'avortement pour des raisons religieuses et pour des raisons liées au risque de contracter les MSTs. Language: English Keywords: SOUTH AFRICA | RESEARCH REPORT | QUALITATIVE RESEARCH | PREMARITAL PREGNANCY | MARRIAGE AGE | AGE FACTORS | PERCEPTION | ATTITUDES | STIGMA | FOCUS GROUPS | Africa, Southern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Developing Countries | Research Methodology | Reproductive Behavior | Fertility | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Population Characteristics | Psychological Factors | Behavior | Social Problems | Sociocultural Factors | Data Collection Document Number: 322328 |
| 30. Title: Early marriage and HIV risk: the case of Burkina Faso. Author: Guttmacher Institute Source: New York, New York, Guttmacher Institute, 2007 Jan. [2] p. (In Brief) Abstract: For African women, marrying early in life means increased exposure to HIV/AIDS. Husbands of adolescent brides tend to be much older than their wives, more sexually experienced and therefore more likely to be HIV positive. Early marriage exposes young women to frequent, unprotected sex with their husbands, especially when the couple is trying to have children. For many young women, relying on their husbands to remain faithful to them is the sole protection they have from the virus. This problem is compounded by the fact that adolescent brides are often forced to drop out of school and lead homebound lives, cut off from public sources of information. Consequently, young married women in Africa receive very little information about how to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and the HIV/AIDS epidemic plaguing many of their countries. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: BURKINA FASO | SUMMARY REPORT | PREVALENCE | YOUTH | MARRIAGE AGE | AGE FACTORS | RISK FACTORS | HIV INFECTIONS | SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES | EXPOSURE | LITERACY | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Developing Countries | Measurement | |