Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T05:09:52.345Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Reproductive pattern among women in 19th century Sweden

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Ulf Högberg
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Umeå University Hospital, Sweden
Sune Åkerman
Affiliation:
Department of History, Umeå University, Sweden

Summary

Among the married female population in rural areas of 19th century Sweden infertility and subfertility were found in 7·5% and 6·1% respectively with increasing incidence during the latter half of the century. In relation to the age group 20–24, fecundity declined by 42% and 92% in the age groups 35–39 and 40–45 respectively. One-third of married women died before age 50. Re-marriages and step-parents were common. Less than half of the married women brought up the majority of the children in the community.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Belsey, M. (1976) The epidemiology of infertility: a review with particular reference to sub-Sahara Africa. Bull. Wld Hlth Org. 54, 319.Google Scholar
Bongaarts, J. & Potter, R. G. (1983) Fertility, Biology, and Behaviour, p. 40. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Danell, C. (1981) The Demographic Data Base at Umeå University. In: Tradition and Transition. Studies in Microdemography and Social Change. Edited by Brandström, A. & Sundin, J.. University of Umeå, Sweden.Google Scholar
Högberg, U. (1985) Maternal Mortality in Sweden. Umeå University Medical Dissertations, New Series No. 156, Sweden.Google ScholarPubMed
Högberg, U. & Åkerman, S. (1988) Height and nutrition in early modern Sweden. In: Society Health and Population During the Demographic Transition, p. 143. Edited by Brandström, A. & Tedebrand, L. G.. Umeå.Google Scholar
Högberg, U. & Broström, G. (1985) The demography of maternal mortality in the 19th century in Sweden. Int. J. Gynec. Obstet. 23, 489.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
James, W. (1985) Has fecundability been declining in recent years in developed countries? J. biosoc. Sci. 13, 419.Google Scholar
Jansen, R. P. S. (1984) Fertility in older women. IPPF Med. Bull. 18, 4.Google ScholarPubMed
Menken, J., Trussell, J. & Larsen, U. (1986) Age and infertility. Science, N.Y. 233, 1389.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nordenfelt, L. & Lindahl, I. (1984) Om grunden for svensk dodsorsaksstatistik (The principles of Swedish death cause registration). University of Linkoping, Sweden.Google Scholar
Poston, D. L. & Trent, K. (1982) International variability in childlessness. J. Fam. Issues, 3, 473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwartz, D. & Mayaux, M. J. (1982) Female fecundity as a function of age. New Engl. J. Med. 306, 404.Google ScholarPubMed
Widen, L. (1975) Mortality and causes of death in Sweden during the 18th century. Statistisk Tidskrift, 13, 93.Google Scholar