Infanticide as a terminal abortion procedure

In this investigation we examine the proposition that infanticide is a terminal abortion procedure, practiced when abortion attempts fail or when the decision to kill an infant is based on characteristics of the baby that can be observed only after birth. Three hypotheses were deivsed to test this assumption: (1) infanticide takes place before the infant's birth ceremony; (2) birth ceremonies are more prevalent in societies practicing infanticide; and (3) the reasons for infanticide and abortion are similar. Hypothesis 2 was rejected because of the presence of birth ceremonies in almost all societies, hypotheses 1 and 3 were confirmed.

[Children as a burden, children as a joy: theses on family formation and number of children]

"This article surveys significant changes in fertility and nuptiality in Central and Western Europe since the middle of the 19th century. In this context the secular decline in birth rates is understood as a consequence of changes in the social structure as well as of diffusion of social norms." It is noted that for the period after 1920, and especially after 1950, no "determinants" exist that can completely explain fluctuations in marriages and births. "Hence, the central thesis of this article is the following: There is no stable pattern of family formation in a modern industrial society and the number of children is not directly linked to mortality conditions or economic constraints. Subsequently, the article develops several hypotheses concerning the significance of marriage and parenting in the late 20th century, and points out that ups and downs in marriages, divorces, and births may be seen in analogy to other fashion-like processes (such as consumer behavior or social behavior)." (summary in ENG)

The place of children in the history of couples

"Does the multiplication of families outside wedlock increase poverty and aggravate the 'social problems' that emerge during adolescence, or does it normalize the position of children brought up in nontraditional families?...[The author] observes the place of children in the history of couples [in France].... The increase in the risk of breakdown of unions corresponds to a logic that is independent of fertility behaviour. Children are increasingly conceived by parents who already live [together], and the time of their birth is more and more often planned, but the presence of children thereafter has only a weak influence on the solidity of the union, except when the children are very young; children are no stronger a guarantee of the solidity of a union now than [they were] in the past."

Aboriginal marriage and survival

Patterns of marriage among the aboriginal population of Australia are investigated. The author attempts to determine "the economic significance of a method of family formation in which child-bearing is an essential component of the process....[and discusses the impact of] change in the micro-economies of Aboriginal households and families." Probabilities of change in marital status are also considered. Data are from the 1981 census.

Family planning experiences of Vietnamese women

The increasing Vietnamese population in the United States and the high fertility rate seen in this group warrant studies about Vietnamese cultural beliefs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine sociocultural factors that influence family planning practices of Vietnamese refugee women. Findings reveal that the stresses associated with starting over in a new land, such as concern about finances and learning English, influenced younger Vietnamese women in this study to use family planning methods that would limit the number of future pregnancies. The meaning of children and the importance of their educational future were also influential in determining the number of children desired and family planning practices. Cultural and religious beliefs also directed the women's choice of method. Results from this study can be used to educate health care professionals, increase appropriate educational material for Vietnamese women, and assist in the development of appropriate family planning programs.

Female infanticide and child neglect as possible reasons for low sex ratio in the Punjab, 1881-1931

"The social and cultural practices prevalent in various parts of [India] resulted in the neglect of the female child...[in general, and] probably more so in the Punjab. Moreover, female mortality significantly exceeded male mortality in years of epidemics and famines. This paper tries to examine the socio-cultural and economic factors, namely, the system of land holdings and inheritance strategies, structured customs in different parts of the province, and notions of honour and status which probably have been at the back of neglect of the girl child. Among certain caste groups even female infanticide might not have been uncommon."

[The importance of children for the elderly and changes in reproductive behavior (a study of three rural communities in Mexico)]

"This study analyzes the importance of children in the care of elderly populations in rural communities [in Mexico].... In particular, the perception of elders about the value of their children is analyzed, especially the role children play in their economic contribution to the household or their instrumental value to it at different stages of their lives.... With respect [to] the condition in which children support their parents in their old age the economic assistance given was studied too. Finally, the preference regarding family size of those 60 years or older [is] given, as well as the view points of women on the need to control fertility and reduce family size. Three different types of cost are studied: the economic cost of supporting and caring for children, the emotional cost of their upbringing and the health cost of multiple pregnancies and births." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

The old-age security hypothesis revisited

"Children's altruism toward parents is allowed in a two-overlapping-generations model with endogenous fertility. Parents raise children because, when retired, they expect gifts from their children who are essentially a capital good. Individuals' behavior between generations is examined by analyzing a Nash equilibrium, which is then compared with a social planner's optimal allocation. The pay-as-you-go public pension program is viewed as the optimal gifts from the optimal allocation when the latter is implemented. The effect on fertility of the introduction of a capital market is also analyzed. The validity of the old-age security hypothesis is shown to depend on the parameters of utility and cost functions."

Putting a price tag on children

"This chapter shows that...there are many different aspects to the cost of a child and...many different measures have been developed. The chapter...argues that theories of fertility need to specify carefully the definition of child costs and that the assumptions underlying existing measures need to be made plain.... The review is divided into three major sections: babies, childcare and children. The sources covered range from popular magazines and Mothercare catalogues to the only large-scale official [U.K.] survey of maternity and its costs, undertaken in 1946. The items covered range from the price of babies' essentials to the fees at schools...as well as the costs of maintaining a child at university."

Population and the environment: a parable of firewood and other tales

The author analyzes the relationship between population and the environment, with a focus on "the role which environmental degradation and natural resources depletion may play in producing the...population pressure which lies behind such degradation and depletion especially in developing countries.... The principal conclusion of this analysis is that the possibilities for a stable equilibrium between human population and its environment are quite limited....I show that parental altruism toward their children can only make matters worse, if socially unchecked, by leading to an increase of the birthrate in every environmental state in comparison with that which would occur in its absence."

Intention versus behaviour in parental sex preferences among the Mukogodo of Kenya

The relationship between parents' stated sex preferences for children and actual parental behaviour towards sons and daughters is examined among the Mukogodo, a group of traditional pastoralists in rural Kenya. Although their cultural values are male-centered and they tend to express a preference for sons, Mukogodo parents actually appear to be more solicitous of daughters, and the Mukogodo have a strongly female-biased childhood sex ratio. Studies of stated sex preferences should therefore be coupled with attempts to assess actual parental investment in sons and daughters.

The production of infant health: input demand and health status differences related to gender of the infant

The authors collected data on all births between May 1, 1983, and April 30, 1984, in the Cebu City area of the Philippines island of Cebu. Some 3,080 mothers were studied in order to "test the effects of gender preferences on infant health within the context of a well-defined model. This model considers the mechanisms by which sociocultural and biological factors affect infant health." The authors conclude that although there are some minor gender-related differences in health input demands, they should have little impact on the cohort's actual health outcomes.

Relationship of perceived maternal acceptance-rejection in childhood and social support networks of pregnant adolescents

In a sample of 53 at-risk pregnant adolescents, the relationship between their perceptions of maternal acceptance-rejection in childhood and the nature of their social supports was examined. Perception of acceptance-rejection was significantly correlated with both frequency of interaction with social network members and expectations of their future support. Implications for public health strategies are discussed.

The costs of children: a review of methods and results

The author "examines the difficulties of estimating the direct costs of children, arguing that the cost of a child is not an objective fact but varies according to tastes and preferences, and the amount of money parents have to spend on their children." The geographical focus is on Australia.