Sex ratio and maternal age in a natural fertility, subsistence population: Daughters, sons, daughters.

Abstract

To evaluate putative links between birth sex ratios (BSR = male:female births) and maternal age in a traditional, agricultural, natural fertility population. Metabolic energy, social support, and the costs and benefits associated with producing sons versus daughters can affect BSR. These variables fluctuate with maternal age. Most studies evaluating links between maternal age and BSR have been based on industrialized populations, which differ importantly from traditional indigenous communities in terms of the aforementioned socio-ecological variables. We analyze data from 108 mothers and their 603 children living in an agricultural, pronatalist, Kakchiquel Mayan community. A logistic regression model, including linear and quadratic maternal age terms and women-specific random effects, shows a nonmonotonic (p = .028) relationship between log BSR and maternal age. For maternal age ≤ 22, the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for BSR is <1, suggesting a bias toward girls. The probability of birthing a son increased early during the average mother's reproductive career, peaked at age 31.3 (approximately 95% CI = 27.1, 35.5), and decreased as she approached her perimenopausal period (p = .014). No changes in mating system, population sex ratio, mortality patterns, natural disasters, social risk, or toxic exposures were observed and thus are unlikely to explain our results. At this point, age-related changes in metabolic energy, social support, and costs and benefits associated with offspring sex cannot be excluded as possible explanations. BSR can affect growth, morbidity, and mortality. Thus, our results are relevant to numerous fields, including anthropology, ecology, demography, and public health.