Fertility and post-reproductive longevity

Journal ArticleWe examine the effects of reproduction on longevity among mothers and fathers after age 60. This study is motivated by evolutionary theories of aging and theories predicting social benefits and costs of children to older parents. We use the Utah Population Database, that includes a large genealogical database from the Utah Family History Library. Cox proportional hazard models based on 13,987 couples married between 1860-1899 indicate that women with fewer children as well as those bearing children late in life live longer post-reproductive lives. As the burdens of motherhood increase, the relative gains in longevity of late fertile women increase compared to their non-late fertile counterparts. Husbands' longevity is less sensitive to reproductive history, although husbands have effects that are similar to those of their wives during the latter marriage cohort. We find some support for predictions based on evolutionary principles, but we also find evidence that implicates a role for shared marital environments

Reproductive outcomes in male childhood cancer survivors: a linked cancer-birth registry analysis

OBJECTIVE: Compare the risk of reproductive and infant outcomes between male childhood cancer survivors and a population-based comparison group. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: 4 U.S. regions. PARTICIPANTS: Cancer registries identified males <20 years old diagnosed with cancer 1973-2000. Linked birth certificates identified first subsequent live offspring (n=470). Comparison subjects were identified from remaining birth certificates, frequency-matched on year and age at fatherhood, and race/ethnicity (n=4150). MAIN EXPOSURE: Cancer diagnosis prior to age 20. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy and infant outcomes identified from birth certificates. RESULTS: Compared with infants born to unaffected males, offspring of cancer survivors had a borderline risk of birth weight <2500 g (RR 1.43, 95% CI 0.99-2.05), with risk associated most strongly with younger age of cancer diagnosis and exposure to any chemotherapy (RR 1.96, 95% CI 1.22-3.17) or radiotherapy (RR 1.95, 95% CI 1.14-3.35). However, they were not at risk of being born prematurely, small for gestational age, having malformations or an altered male:female sex ratio. Overall, female partners of male survivors were not more likely to have maternal complications recorded on birth records versus the comparison group. However, preeclampsia was associated with some cancers, especially central nervous system tumors (RR 3.36, 95% CI 1.63-6.90). CONCLUSIONS: Most pregnancies resulting in live births among partners of male childhood cancer survivors were not at significantly greater risk of complications versus comparison subjects. The possibility of a paternal component affected by prior cancer history influencing predisposition towards some adverse perinatal outcomes merits further investigation

Evolution différentielle de la fécondité et groupes sociaux religieux : l'exemple de l'Utah au XIXe siècle

This paper presents a differential fertility analysis which is of interest on two counts : firstly, it provides concrete findings on the factors which modify behaviour patterns ; and secondly, it is based on a method of analysis by groups which enables several variables involded in this modification to be taken into account simultaneously. Religion and residence are two factors which undeniably have a strong influence on fertility. Their relative importance varies from one period to another.Dans cet article, les auteurs présentent une analyse de fécondité différentielle. L'intérêt de cette recherche est double : d'une part, elle apporte des résultats concrets sur les facteurs de transformation des comportements ; d'autre part, elle s'appuie sur une méthode d'analyse catégorielle qui permet de prendre en compte simultanément diverses variables explicatives. L'adhésion religieuse et le mode de résidence jouent indiscutablement un rôle important dans les stratégies de fécondité. Le poids respectif de ces deux facteurs évolue dans le temps.Mineau Geraldine-P., Anderton Douglas L., Bean Lee L., Willigan J. Dennis. Evolution différentielle de la fécondité et groupes sociaux religieux : l'exemple de l'Utah au XIXe siècle. In: Annales de démographie historique, 1984. Démographie historique et généalogie. pp. 219-236