Cumulative Fertility Research Articles

Current landscape of fertility induction in males with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare reproductive disorder caused by deficient secretion or action of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and is a hormonally treatable form of male infertility. Both pulsatile GnRH treatment and combined gonadotropin therapy effectively induce spermatogenesis in 75%-80% of males with CHH, albeit the ejaculate does not usually approach normal semen parameters by WHO criteria. This is in some contrast to the cumulative fertility outcomes in females with CHH on gonadotropin treatment that are indistinguishable from those of reproductively normal females. Emerging data provide insights into early life determinants of male fertility (i.e., minipuberty), and research has identified key predictors of outcomes for fertility-inducing treatment in men with CHH. Such developments provide mounting evidence for tailoring approaches to maximize fertility potential in CHH, although there is no clear consensus to date on the optimal approach to fertility-inducing treatment. This review provides an up-to-date review on the current evidence underpinning therapeutic approaches for inducing spermatogenesis in males with CHH. In the absence of evidence-based clinical guidelines, this synthesis of current evidence provides guidance for clinicians working with males with CHH seeking fertility.

Is US Fertility now Below Replacement? Evidence from Period vs. Cohort Trends

In this study, we contrast period and cohort approaches to answering the question: Is US fertility now below replacement? The answer would appear to be an unambiguous “yes” based on period trends in the total fertility rate (TFR). Since 2007, TFR has declined from 2.12, just above the replacement level set by demographic tradition at 2.10 births per woman, to 1.67 in 2022, leading many to speculate that the United States has now entered a sustained period of below-replacement fertility. A quite different picture emerges from cohort trends in the cumulative fertility rate (CFR), a cohort measure that is not subject to biases that can distort period TFRs. For older birth cohorts of US women—those born between 1959 and 1987 and who were thus age 33 or older in 2020—observed or projected CFRs at age 45 vary between 2.00 and 2.24 births per woman. For younger cohorts—those born between 1988 and 2010 and who were 10 to 32 as of 2020—we project CFRs at age 45 that are below 2.00, with these declines attributable to falling fertility at younger ages. We thus conclude that from a cohort perspective, the question “Is US fertility now below replacement” should be replaced by the question “Will lifetime fertility fall below replacement for the youngest cohorts of US women?”, with the answer to this latter question depending on the extent to which decreases observed at early ages in these cohorts will or will not be offset by future increases at later ages.

Parity Progression Ratio Dynamics, Determinants, and Policy Approaches: A Study in Isfahan in 2020

Background and aims: The fertility trend in Isfahan, as in other parts of the country, has decreased significantly in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the parity progression ratio (PPR) and factors affecting fertility. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted using a researcher-made questionnaire. Moreover, the study method was a survey, and the sample size included 662 married women aged 15 to 49 years. The study also employed a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Results: The results revealed that the cumulative fertility rate ((CFR=1.5) has decreased in Isfahan. There was also a significant relationship between the number of children with abortion (P=0.001), education (P=0.000), and employment of women (P=0.02). The results of multivariate regression with the control of women’s job type also indicated that the variables of the age of marriage and literacy of women (r=0.355, P<0.05) in householders, age of marriage (r=0.286, P=0.00) in unemployed, and literacy of women (r=0.336, P=0.016) in employed women have the highest explanation in childbearing. Conclusion: To increase fertility and childbearing, more attention should be paid to economic issues, inflation reduction, and employment rise so that we can witness an increase in marriage, followed by childbearing to the level of succession. The best way to maintain the level of substitution is the full and comprehensive implementation of population policies and the implementation of adaptive policies appropriate to the level of fertility.

Half of global agricultural soil phosphorus fertility derived from anthropogenic sources

The use of mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizers, often referred to as anthropogenic phosphorus, has dramatically altered the global phosphorus cycle and increased soil phosphorus fertility and crop yields. Quantifying agriculture’s reliance on anthropogenic phosphorus requires estimates of its contribution to agricultural soil fertility. Here we present a model of soil phosphorus dynamics simulating phosphorus availability in agricultural soils for individual countries from 1950 to 2017. Distinguishing between anthropogenic and natural phosphorus pools and accounting for farming practices, agricultural trade and crop–livestock recycling, we estimate that the global anthropogenic contribution to available phosphorus in agricultural soils was 47 ± 8% in 2017. Country-level anthropogenic phosphorus signatures vary according to cumulative fertilizer use and phosphorus availability in soil inherited pre-1950, with negligible influence of the trade of feed and food products. Despite different historical trajectories, we find that Western Europe, North America and Asia are similarly reliant on anthropogenic phosphorus, with nearly 60% of the total available phosphorus of anthropic origin in 2017. Conversely, anthropogenic phosphorus inputs in Africa remained low over the study period, contributing only around 30% of available phosphorus. The unequal reliance of agricultural soil fertility and food production systems on anthropogenic phosphorus resources highlights the need for a fairer management of the world’s remaining phosphate rock resources. About half of the current available phosphorus in agricultural soil globally is derived from anthropogenic sources, according to country-scale simulations of phosphorus dynamics between 1950 and 2017.

Socioeconomic determinants of cumulative fertility in Ghana.

The pace of decline in fertility rates in sub-Saharan Africa appears to have slowed or stalled in the last few decades. This study examines the socioeconomic associated with cumulative fertility in Ghana. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate determinants of cumulative fertility using data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys of 2003, 2008, and 2014. The composition of children ever born by women did not change considerably over the study periods. Socioeconomic disparities in educational attainment, household wealth, employment, and employer status are significantly associated with cumulative fertility risks in Ghana. The current age of women, age at sexual debut, and marital status, among others, are also linked to cumulative fertility levels. Place and region of residence are also linked to fertility in Ghana. Cumulative fertility levels in Ghana are underscored by considerable socioeconomic disparities among women of reproductive age. Fertility regulation policies should hinge on improving the socio-economic wellbeing of women in Ghana.

Childlessness among women of reproductive age in Serbia from a demographic perspective

The social, economic, and cultural changes that have taken place in Europe in the past few decades in the field of fertility have been accompanied by an increase in permanent childlessness. The childlessness level among women born in 1968 is 12% in Serbia, slightly below the European average (14%). The aim of this paper is to explore in more detail the level of childlessness in Serbia and the characteristics of women aged 15-49 without live births. Changes in childlessness over a 60-year period (1961-2020) by five-year age groups were analysed. The basic characteristics of childless women of reproductive age by education, marital status, and age were observed from 1991 to 2011. The paper is based on census and vital statistics data. The authors introduce two new indicators of childlessness: the general childlessness rate (GChR) as the share of women without live births in the total female population aged 15-49, and the age-specific childlessness rate (ASChR) as the percentage of childless women by age. Changes in cumulative fertility rates by age were less influenced by the reproductive behaviour of mothers and much more by an increase in the proportion of childless women. The general childlessness rate until 1991 was relatively stable in Serbia. Since then, it has increased intensely (from 30.1% in 1991 to 41.6% in 2011, and 43.4% in 2020). The increase in childlessness is largely a consequence of the postponement of first births, but also of the increase in permanent childlessness among women aged 45-49. The postponement of first births has occured in all age groups and the ASChR has increased across the board. In Serbia, in 2020, the ASChR reached record values for all five-year age groups (36.5% for women aged 30-34, 21.4% for ages 35-39), as did the level of permanent childlessness (13.8% for ages 45-49). The paper also analyses childlessness by education and marital status. According to census data (1991, 2002, and 2011), the general childlessness rate is lowest among women without any formal education and those who haven?t completed primary school, and highest among women with a primary education. Childlessness rates are particularly high among women in their thirties and forties. The influence of marital status on the level of childlessness was also confirmed. The GChR of single women was at least 10 times higher than the value for ever married women. The GChR ranged from 96% to 89% for single women and invariably slightly above 8% for ever married women. The results of direct standardization showed the greater importance of the changes that occurred between 1991 and 2011 by education and marital status of women aged 15-49 on the childlessness level, as well as their completely opposite effects compared to those caused by the change in the age structure. The large impact of changes in marital structure also indicates the possibility of a certain influence on reducing childlessness in Serbia. As the decreasein marriage is not accompanied by a higherprevalence of stable extramarital unions, it?s possible that the creation of more favourable circumstances for an independent life for young people and for forming a union could contribute to reducing the postponement of childbearing, and thus reducing childlessness during and at the end of the reproductive age. This is especially important considering that family and children are highly valued in Serbia. It should be noted that the high and growing shares of women without children in the 30-34 and 35-39 age groups limit the possibilities of reducing permanent childlessness, particularly in the near future.

Influence of cultivation method, seeding rate, and fertilizer rate on the establishment of creeping bentgrass for putting green renovation

AbstractDuring putting green renovation in northern regions of the United States, golf course superintendents must select a method to quickly establish creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.)(CBG). This study aimed to assess the impact of cultivation method, seeding rate, and cumulative starter fertilizer rate on CBG establishment during putting green renovation. A field study on putting greens at the Joseph Valentine Turfgrass Research Center (University Park, PA) was initiated in late summer–autumn of 2017 and 2018. Cultivation treatments included slicing + 0.5‐inch hollow tines, slicing + 0.25‐inch hollow tines, slicing only, surface dimpling with the Jobsaver attachment, and no cultivation. Seeding rates included 0.75 and 1.5 lb seed 1,000 ft−2 with a 50–50 blend of ‘Penn A‐1’ and ‘Penn A‐4’ CBG. Cumulative starter fertilizer treatments were 0.5–0.4–0.3, 1.0–0.9–0.6, or 1.5–1.3–0.8 lb N–P–K 1,000 ft−2. Seedling vigor and turfgrass cover were visually assessed at 1 wk and 6, 10, and 36 wk after seeding, respectively. Slicing alone produced turfgrass cover equal to or greater than slicing + hollow‐tine cultivation. At the high seeding rate, surface dimpling produced similar turfgrass cover to treatments involving slicing. The 1.5 lb 1,000 ft−2 seeding rate increased the turfgrass cover of CBG compared with 0.75 lb 1,000 ft−2. Establishment rate improved as cumulative fertilizer rates increased. The results indicate that slicing alone is effective for establishing CBG during late summer and autumn in sand rootzone putting green renovation programs and may be more cost‐effective than core cultivation.

In-vitro maturation of oocytes versus conventional IVF in women with infertility and a high antral follicle count: a randomized non-inferiority controlled trial.

Is one cycle of IVM non-inferior to one cycle of conventional in IVF with respect to live birth rates in women with high antral follicle counts (AFCs)? We could not demonstrate non-inferiority of IVM compared with IVF. IVF with ovarian hyperstimulation has limitations in some subgroups of women at high risk of ovarian stimulation, such as those with polycystic ovary syndrome. IVM is an alternative ART for these women. IVM may be a feasible alternative to IVF in women with a high AFC, but there is a lack of data from randomized clinical trials comparing IVM with IVF in women at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This single-center, randomized, controlled non-inferiority trial was conducted at an academic infertility center in Vietnam from January 2018 to April 2019. In total, 546 women with an indication for ART and a high AFC (≥24 follicles in both ovaries) were randomized to the IVM (n = 273) group or the IVF (n = 273) group; each underwent one cycle of IVM with a prematuration step versus one cycle of IVF using a standard gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist triggering. The primary endpoint was live birth rate after the first embryo transfer. The non-inferiority margin for IVM versus IVF was -10%. Live birth after the first embryo transfer occurred in 96 women (35.2%) in the IVM group and 118 women (43.2%) in the IVF group (absolute risk difference -8.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI) -16.6%, 0.5%). Cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates at 12 months after randomization were 44.0% in the IVM group and 62.6% in the IVF group (absolute risk difference -18.7%; 95% CI -27.3%, -10.1%). Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome did not occur in the IVM group, versus two cases in the IVF group. There were no statistically significant differences between the IVM and IVF groups with respect to the occurrence of pregnancy complications, obstetric and perinatal complications, preterm delivery, birth weight and neonatal complications. The main limitation of the study was its open-label design. In addition, the findings are only applicable to IVM conducted using the prematuration step protocol used in this study. Finally, the single ethnicity population limits the external generalizability of the findings. Our randomized clinical trial compares live birth rates after IVM and IVF. Although IVM is a viable and safe alternative to IVF that may be suitable for some women seeking a mild ART approach, the current study findings approach inferiority for IVM compared with IVF when cumulative outcomes are considered. Future research should incorporate multiple cycles of IVM in the study design to estimate cumulative fertility outcomes and better inform clinical decision-making. This work was partly supported by Ferring grant number 000323 and funded by the Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) and by the Fund for Research Flanders (FWO). LNV has received speaker and conference fees from Merck, grant, speaker and conference fees from Merck Sharpe and Dohme, and speaker, conference and scientific board fees from Ferring; TMH has received speaker fees from Merck, Merck Sharp and Dohme, and Ferring; RJN has received conference and scientific board fees from Ferring, is a minor shareholder in an IVF company, and receives grant funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia; BWM has acted as a paid consultant to Merck, ObsEva and Guerbet, and is the recipient of grant money from an NHMRC Investigator Grant; RBG reports grants and fellowships from the NHMRC of Australia; JS reports lecture fees from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Biomérieux, Besins Female Healthcare and Merck, grants from Fund for Research Flanders (FWO), and is co-inventor on granted patents on CAPA-IVM methodology in the US (US10392601B2) and Europe (EP3234112B1); TDP, VQD, VNAH, NHG, AHL, THP and RW have no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years, and no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. NCT03405701 (www.clinicaltrials.gov). 16 January 2018. 25 January 2018.

Rodne uloge i obrazovanje kao elementi objašnjenja fertiliteta po tipu naselja u Srbiji

This text is aimed at the consideraton of differences related to fertility of urban and non-urban settlements in Serbia, from the point of view of differentiation concerning education and gender roles. The discussion framework consists of the results of relevant empirical researches that consider gender equality, as well as the presented data about level of education for both types of settlements. In terms of fertility, we used census data and presented two indicators. These are the cumulative live birth rates and the shares of women who have not given birth. The focus is on the generations born in the second half of the 20th century, observing the cohorts that are in the reproductive period, as well as those that came out. Differences between urban and non-urban settlements are not only observed for Serbia as a whole, but are also placed within the framework of statical regional areas. The decline in cumulative fertility, the postponement of parenthood and the shares of women without children both in the optimal reproductive period and in the cohorts at the end of reproductive period are more pronounced in the urban population. However, these tendencies also have existed in non-urban settlements, despite the fact that the observed fertility indicators do not reflect the difficulty of regulating low fertility in this type of settlement. Very low cumulative fertility rates in the urban settlements are the result of insufficient adjustment of the institutional framework to emancipatory processes in the sphere of gender roles. The negative effects of traditional patriarchy in non-urban settlements are more visible through some other demographic indicators that are closely related to the issue of low fertility. Hence, the importance of the gender aspect cannot be neglected when it comes to non-urban settlements.

Fertilizer timing affects nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and ammonia emissions from soil

AbstractThe impact of interactions between management and climate on nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and ammonia (NH3) emissions are not well understood. This study quantified the effect of urea fertilizer application timing on inorganic N movement, immobilization, and the gaseous emissions of N2O‐N, CO2‐C, and NH3‐N. Urea was applied once, at two rates (0 and 224 kg ha−1) on six dates (early fall, 20 Sept. 2017; mid‐fall, 11 Oct. 2017; early winter, 1 Nov. 2017; early spring, 1 May 2018; mid‐spring, 22 May 2018; and early summer, 12 June 2018). Gaseous emissions, soil temperature, and soil moisture were measured every 4 h for 21 consecutive days following urea application. Changes in soil inorganic N contents were used to determine the amount of inorganic N remaining in the soil, nitrification, immobilization/fixation, and leaching. For all fertilizer application dates, the cumulative fertilizer derived N2O‐N emissions for the 21 days following application were <0.05% of the applied N. Fertilizer‐derived N2O‐N emission rates were higher than N2O‐N emission rates in the unfertilized soil in early fall and early summer. Even though the highest net N2O‐N emissions occurred in early spring, the application of fertilizer did not increase emissions. The highest net N2O‐N + NH3‐N emissions occurred in cool soils (early spring) in soils with water filled pore space (>60%). These findings indicate that intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) default value of 1% of applied N for N2O emissions improved by considering the fertilizer application date.

Understanding How Immigrant Fertility Differentials Vary over the Reproductive Life Course

Studies of immigrant fertility differentials indicate that foreign-born women have more children than native-born women, at least for some origin groups. Yet little is known about variation in cumulative fertility differentials over the life course, including the extent to which this variation develops into completed fertility differentials. This research responds with an analysis of cumulative fertility differentials in the UK for a cohort of women born between 1942 and 1971. Findings are consistent with age-specific patterns that have been documented for immigrant groups in the UK, but underline the importance of taking a cohort perspective, which helps to distinguish between the tempo and quantum of fertility. Immigrants have significantly higher completed fertility than UK-born natives if they were born in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jamaica, or Western and Central Africa, but the profile of their cumulative fertility differentials—versus the UK-born—varies considerably over the life course, especially by age at migration. For example, women from Bangladesh and Pakistan have similar levels of cumulative fertility at age 40, but very different age patterns of cumulative fertility from ages 20–40. There is a consistent pattern of relatively delayed Pakistani fertility at early ages, especially for those arriving at later ages, but the same is not true for women from Bangladesh. Overall, these results imply that researchers should beware of variation in cohort fertility over the life course—with respect to both the quantum and tempo of fertility—when analysing immigrant childbearing, in addition to variation by origin and age at arrival.

Estrogen therapy before hysteroscopic adhesiolysis improves the fertility outcome in patients with intrauterine adhesions.

To describe the fertility outcomes after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis combined with preoperative hormone treatment in women with intrauterine adhesion (IUA). This study is a retrospective cohort study. A total of 230 patients with IUA underwent hysteroscopic adhesiolysis combined with hormone treatment from Jan 2012 to Jun 2018. 148 patients who received preoperative estrogen treatment were enrolled into group A and 82 patients without preoperative estrogen treatment were enrolled into group B. All the patients underwent hysteroscopic adhesiolysis and received postoperative estrogen therapy, intrauterine indwelling device. Second or third look was performed after 2-3months. 90.87% (209/230) patients complete the study. The AFS scores at baseline were higher in the group A than group B. After the preoperative E2 treatment, group A achieved the comparable AFS score to group B before the surgery. The cumulative fertility rate in group A was comparable in group B, both in the ITT analysis (49.32% vs. 52.44%, p = 0.651) and the PP analysis (54.07% vs.58.10%, p = 0.575).The mean conception time was also similar in group A and group B (8.30 ± 6.47 vs. 8.54 ± 5.68months, p = 0.837). Besides, the surgery times in group A were less than group B. There was no difference in the rate of adverse events between two groups. Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis combined with preoperative oestrogen could reduce the preoperative AFS scores and the times of surgery which yield a similar conception rate in women with less severe intrauterine adhesions.

Determinants of Fertility in Bangladesh: Evidence From the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey.

This study uses the cumulative fertility approach to examine a wide variety of factors affecting fertility among all ever-married women of childbearing ages in Bangladesh. Data are taken from the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. The mean number of children ever born for all women is 2.45 and for women aged 40 to 49 years is 3.89. The one-way analysis of variance is performed to observe differences in the mean number of children ever born across the levels of covariates. The generalized linear model with Poisson link function is carried out to examine the effect of covariates on fertility. The incidence rate ratio is greater than one, that is, fertility is higher among women who are Muslims, illiterates, or primary school graduates; have no access to mass media; give the first birth at the age of 15 years or earlier; ever use any contraceptive; and desired three or more babies as the ideal number of children. Type of place of residence, administrative divisions, husband’s education, respondent’s working status, husband’s occupation, age at first marriage, and the spousal age difference are also significant to some extent, especially for assessing the fertility of all women.

Residual effects of fertilizer N response to split N applications in semiarid farmland

A better understanding of residual N fate is important for N management in agricultural production. The N application rate and time may dramatically influence N recovery in the plant–soil system, in turn affecting residual N uptake by subsequent crops. A 3-year field experiment was conducted in plastic-mulched maize in semiarid farmland. 15N-labeled urea was applied to microplots with a single application (100% before sowing, N1), two splits (4:6 at sowing and eight-leaf stages, N2), and three splits (4:3:3 at sowing, eight-leaf, and silking stages, N3), and the fate of residual fertilizer N in soils over the following two cropping seasons was examined. Approximately 14.6–18.7% and 5.4–5.8% of labelled fertilizer N were recovered by maize in the second and the third seasons, respectively, with the cumulative recovery efficiency reaching 47.6–60.8% over 3 years. Applying N with three splits significantly increased residual fertilizer N recovery by 24.6% in the second cropping season compared to N1 and N2. About 22.7–32.4% and 15–21% of total labelled N applied was residual in the 0–2 m soil layer after the second- and the third-season harvest, respectively, with the higher residual amount from split N applications. In conclusion, split N applications significantly increased the cumulative fertilizer N recovery in the plant–soil system while decrease the potential losses over 3 years, due to the higher recovery efficiency and the lower N losses from topdressed N.

Stover Harvest did not Change Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Two Minnesota Fields

Core Ideas Nitrous oxide (N2O) emission varied among years and between crops. The N2O emissions were the same with or without stover harvest in a field without tillage. The N2O emissions were the same with or without stover harvest in field with tillage. The N2O emissions occurred after N fertilizer application in a tilled and no‐till field. The N2O emissions occurred during spring freeze‐thaw in a tilled and a no‐till field. Corn (Zea mays L.) is grown across vast acreages producing massive quantities of stover making corn a desirable cellulosic bioenergy feedstock. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) so small changes in direct soil N2O emissions may have substantial influence on global warming potential (GWP) from the agricultural sector. Harvesting stover alters soil properties such as soil moisture, oxygen availability, temperature, and substrate availability (C and N). Thus, harvesting stover might reduce soil N2O emissions by reducing substrate and by warming and drying the soil. The goal of the study was to determine how harvesting corn stover altered soil N2O emissions. Therefore, soil N2O emissions were measured for four crop‐years (planting to planting) in two independent studies, one in a field managed without tillage (NT1995) and the other was in a field tilled annually with a chisel plow (Chisel). Each field was in a corn–soybean (Glycine max L. [Merr.]) rotation, with (i) corn grain (Grain) only, (ii) grain plus about 50% of the stover harvested (Grain+Moderate), and (iii) grain plus harvesting as much stover as possible (Grain+Aggressive) treatments. Cumulative soil N2O emissions did not differ among treatments in either field during any of the crop‐years monitored. Flux events occurred corresponding to fertilizer applications and to spring freeze‐thaw events. Cumulative fertilizer stimulated emissions tended to be greater for corn than soybean because of N‐fertilizer application. These results are valuable to modelers for enhancing estimates of the N2O component of the stover management C‐footprint.

Women’s Age at First Marriage and Long-Term Economic Empowerment in Egypt

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 calls on nations to promote gender equality and to empower women and girls. SDG5 also recognizes the value of women's economic empowerment, entailing equal rights to economic resources and full participation at all levels in economic decisions. Also according to SDG5, eliminating harmful practices-such as child marriage before age 18-is a prerequisite for women's economic empowerment. Using national data for 4,129 married women 15-43 years who took part in the Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey (ELMPS 1998-2012), we performed autoregressive, cross-lagged panel analyses to assess whether women's first marriage in adulthood (at 18 years or older, as reported in 2006), was positively associated with their long-term post-marital economic empowerment, measured as their engagement in market work and latent family economic agency in 2012. Women's first marriage in adulthood had positive unadjusted associations with their market work and family economic agency in 2012. These associations persisted after accounting for market work and family economic agency in 2006, pre-marital resources for empowerment, and cumulative fertility. Policies to discourage child marriage may show promise to enhance women's long-term post-marital economic empowerment.

Reckoning females’ education as a determinant of fertility control in Pakistan

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to obtain empirical evidence on the impacts of socio-economic and demographic factors on the fertility decisions taken by a common family in developing countries like Pakistan. Also, this study contravenes the conventional orthodoxy of childbirth decisions of a family by enlarging the canvas and conjectures the fundamental nexus amongst female’s education, fertility and contraceptive use.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on micro-level data, obtained from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (2012-2013) which is the third survey carried out in Pakistan. Demographic and socio-economic profiles of 13,558 ever-married women, aged 15-49 years, were randomly selected from Gilgit Baltistan and the four provinces of Pakistan. Three dependent variables are used in empirical analysis i.e. current use of contraceptives, total fertility and cumulative fertility. In order to estimate the probability of contraceptive use maximum likelihood, Probit technique is employed with ordinary least squares on reduced form specifications of total fertility and cumulative fertility models.FindingsThe empirical results proved the hypotheses that educated females practice more family planning through modern contraceptives which leads to a decrease in total fertility rates. Some significant links among females’ education, contraceptive use and fertility define the quantity – quality trade-off and opportunity cost of time. Evidently, female education provides maturity and awareness of family size which is necessary to take crucial economic decisions.Research limitations/implicationsThe empirical evidence suggests that maximum efforts should be made toward women’s education. The current standard of education in Pakistan is not enough to overcome the long-standing problem of excessive child birth. This could be done with the help of public – private partnership as the measures taken by the government alone are insufficient. The government should initiate some adequate measures such as education and awareness about contraceptive usage at the secondary school level that could be a vivacious step to support fertility reduction.Practical implicationsThe framework used in this study provides a broader intra-household income–expenditure approach. With a smaller family size, the household’s income would be shared among fewer individuals. It is highly probable that parents would be more attentive if they need to look after a few children. That is the best way to progress their children with limited resources.Social implicationsFrom the socioeconomic perspectives, educated parents plan the ideal family size which allows them to spend more on their children’s upbringing.Originality/valueThis study captures the magnitude of fertility decisions with the relevance of the wife’s education because the present practice in Pakistan does not allow higher education for married women. This is why this study could be used as a benchmark for further study in the same area.

Teen Religiosity and Fertility in Adulthood in a Canadian Prairie Province

This study examines the association of self-reported religiosity during one's teens with cumulative fertility in adulthood based on a representative sample of women in Alberta, a province in the prairie region of Canada. A significant association is found between these two variables. The association persists even after relevant controls have been taken into account in Poisson regression analysis. Women reporting a high degree of religiosity during their teen years achieve a larger family size than women who stated they were nonreligious or had a low level of religious engagement in their teens. The findings of this study are consistent with the proposition that early life experiences can have long term effects into adulthood, including in this case, cumulative fertility. Religiosity remains an important factor in the explanation of fertility differentials.

Improvement of the mass rearing of larvae of the neotropical lacewing Chrysoperla externa through the incorporation of a new semiliquid artificial diet

Two new semiliquid artificial diets (A and B), the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and combinations of these were evaluated to improve the rearing of the Neotropical lacewing predator Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Additionally, a nutritional analysis of the aforementioned diets was conducted. The developmental time, pupal weight, preoviposition period, fecundity, and fertility were used to evaluate the impact (i.e., potential benefit) of these artificial diets on the predator. We recorded the shortest development time in the treatment group that was given diet A + prey or prey alone ad libitum. Pupal weight was significantly higher with diet A + prey. No difference was found in the female preoviposition period between the five different diets. Fecundity was higher with diet A + prey or prey ad libitum, while fertility on the first day was higher with diet A + prey, cumulative fertility was optimal with diet A and B as food. In conclusion, diet A proved to have the optimal nutritional properties (proteins and carbohydrates) to improve lacewing rearing when used as a nutritional supplement. Furthermore, use of this diet allows a reduction in the use of prey for rearing, and is suitable to be used for mass-rearing programs.

Socialization, Adaptation, Transnationalism, and the Reproductive Behavior of Sub-Saharan African Migrants in France

Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) move from a region with high fertility to regions with low fertility. Yet very few studies have examined the reproductive behavior of international migrants from SSA. This study examines the roles of origin and destination socialization on the fertility and fertility ideals of SSA migrants in France. The study draws on measures of assimilation to systematically examine the effects of socialization and adaptation as well as transnationalism for the effects of sustained origin ties. Data are from the TEO (“Trajectoires et Origines”) survey conducted in France (2008/2009). Logistic regression is used to examine current fertility (the odds of having a birth in the preceding 5 years), and poisson regression is used to examine cumulative fertility (children ever born) and fertility ideals (reported ideal number of children in a family). Controlling for sociodemographic factors, first-generation SSA migrants have higher fertility than second-generation SSA migrants and non-immigrants. But first- and second-generation SSA migrants have higher fertility ideals than non-immigrants. Among SSA migrants, first- and second-generation migrants do not differ in fertility and fertility ideals when adaptation is accounted for. Most measures of adaptation are negatively associated with actual fertility and fertility ideals. Transnationalism is associated with higher fertility ideals but less so with actual fertility. The study finds some evidence for origin socialization, but the findings are more strongly supportive of adaptation to the host society. Origin socialization appears to have a stronger influence on fertility ideals than actual fertility.