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The Secular Trend of Twinning in Australia, 1853–1982

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

J.D.H. Doherty  and
P.A.L. Lancaster
J.D.H. Doherty*
Affiliation:
Medical Service, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome
P.A.L. Lancaster
Affiliation:
National Perinatal Statistics Unit, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, University of Sidney
*
Medical Service, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Viale Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy

Abstract

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The incidence of twinning in Australia from 1853 to 1982 is described. The overall trend was determined by changes in the dizygotic rate and, for more than a century, it has been similar to that found in Finland and the South of Italy. It is not explained by demographic changes and there is no clear relationship with industrialisation or psychosocial factors. Monozygotic twinning has increased, most markedly in the 1970s. No adequate explanation has been given for this increase, so continuing surveillance in many different populations is necessary.

Keywords

Twinning incidenceAustraliaSecular trendDemography
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 35 , Issue 1-2 , April 1986 , pp. 61 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1986

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