An analysis of demographic data describing family stability among blacks and whites for the period 1950 to 1977 shows the following: (1) among both races a growing proportion of marriages end in divorce; (2) an increasing fraction of families--now about 33% of the black and 10% of the white--are headed by women; (3) there have been sharp increases…

Prepared as a resource for developing a 5-year plan of research for the years 1983-1987 by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, this report reviews current knowledge in three areas of perinatal medicine: pregnancy, birth, and the infant. Within each of these three general areas, several subtopics are discussed. These…

This report focuses on electronic fetal monitoring (EFM)--a technology that was developed during the 1960s and has rapidly spread into use in clinical obstetrics. The report includes a review of the extensive published literature on EFM and related subjects. It also contains original calculations concerning the technique's specificity and…

Data from two research studies in Newfoundland, Canada are summarized. The first study examined divorced persons and their family patterns. It was found that numbers and timing of children did not affect marital stability, and neither did whether children were born before or during the current marriage. But whether the children were planned had a…

Current research on adolescent fertility indicates that illegitimacy is becoming concentrated in the teenage and even preteen years. Increasing sexual activity, lack of contraceptive information and techniques, and a desired pregnancy are possible explanations. Some of the problems faced by adolescent mothers include more complicated pregnancies,…

The document describes research on womens' attitudes toward abortion and their decision-making when pregnant leading to either birth or abortion. The objective was "to explore how womens' perceptions of the option of legal abortion have affected their pregnancy decision-making behavior" and to note the impact of their particular choices on their…

Demographic data on 92 subjects identified as having reading problems were used to develop equations useful in identifying high risk, reading disabled students. Multiple linear regression analysis of the data indicated that reading disability (1) had a significant positive relationship with birth order and number of siblings; (2) had a positive…

The impact of population trends upon teacher employment is examined. The growing and shrinking of school enrollment is discussed as it relates to trends in the nation's birth rate. The direct relationship of this phenomenon upon teacher shortage and over-supply and the employment prospects for teachers is considered. With currently declining birth…

A conceptual model of the childbirth experience is developed which emphasizes: (1) maternal coping during labor and delivery; (2) postpartum evaluation of the experience; (3) stress and coping; (4) health and illness behavior; (5) interactions between individual physiological and psychological characteristics; and (6) physical and social…

Results of a study of the relationship between female employment and reduced family size are reported. Specifically, the study sought to determine whether career involvement precedes the final family size decision or whether the family size decision precedes career involvement. Thirty-two voluntarily childless women constituted the sample. The…

This program seeks to prevent adolescent pregnancy and childbearing through a community-based feminist social service program serving teenage girls. This DAWN program, Discovery and Awareness for Women Now, was initiated as a result of the Women's Movement which has had a serious and positive impact on the lives of most adult women. Yet, teenage…

Two competing theories that attempt to explain observed variations in fertility behavior in developing societies are examined. The first of these, the supply or natural fertility theory, is based on supply considerations like fecundity, availability of contraceptives, post-partum amenoria, and a host of other intermediate fertility variables. This…

Unwed pregnancy in young women was conceptualized as a motivated goal interactively determined by both personality and situational factors. The primary behavioral correlate indicative of this predisposition is inadequate use of readily available birth control techniques (B.C.) for the sexually active female. In addition, sex frequency and the…

This paper examines adoption statistics from 1969 through 1975 and suggests that two factors contribute to the decline in the number of children adopted during the 1970s: (1) the increased availability of abortion, and (2) the growing propensity of unwed mothers to keep their children. Changes in the pattern of all adoptions, in the number of…

Using data from the 1960 and 1970 United States Censuses, annual estimates of age-specific fertility rates by educational attainment of women for the period 1945 through 1969 are analyzed. These estimates allow annual examination of the extent to which various educational subgroups have participated in recent fertility trends. The sample…