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The interval between confinements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

G. N. Pollard
Affiliation:
School of Economic and Financial Studies, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

Summary

Data from New South Wales are analysed to show how the interval between confinements depends on the parity of the mother. When an average interval is calculated it is a weighted average for mothers of varying parity. The weights depend in part on the parity progression ratios and as changes in the parity progression ratios alter the composition of the population by parity, this affects the weightings used and thus affects the average interval obtained.

For any interval, age of mother can be calculated at the birth of either child. When age of mother is calculated at the birth of the second child, it is found that the interval is shorter for younger mothers than older mothers. However, when age of mother is calculated at the birth of the first child, there is no significant variation in the interval with age of mother.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

Pollard, A.H. (1974) An Analysis of Past Fertility as an Aid to Forecasting. Research Paper No. 49, School of Economic and Financial Studies, Macquarie University, Sydney.Google Scholar
Pollard, G.N. (1972a) The independence of the intervals between confinements. J. biosoc. Sci. 4, 435.Google Scholar
Pollard, G.N. (1972b) Estimating the Distribution of the Interval between Confinements from Published Birth Statistics. Research Paper No. 16, School of Economic and Financial Studies, Macquarie University, Sydney.Google Scholar
Whelpton, P.K., Campbell, A.A. & Patterson, J.E. (1966) Fertility and Family Planning in the United States. Princeton University Press, Princeton.CrossRefGoogle Scholar