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Twinning in one area of New Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

R. F. R. Scragg  and
R. J. Walsh
R. F. R. Scragg
Affiliation:
University of Papua and New Guinea, and University of New South Wales, Sydney
R. J. Walsh
Affiliation:
University of Papua and New Guinea, and University of New South Wales, Sydney
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Extract

A high incidence of multiple births has been reported in an area of New Britain where there is no evidence that birth control is practised. Analysis failed to confirm Edwards' observation that the average size of the sibship after birth of twins varies with the sex of the twins. Repeated twinning occurred in 14% of women who had given birth to twins. No significant differences were found in birth intervals before and after twins but mothers of twins were more fertile, judged by the total number of pregnancies, than comparable women without twins. Mortality was greater among the twins than among the singletons and was greater among females than among males. The development of health services in the area has reduced mortality significantly.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , April 1971 , pp. 145 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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References

Edwards, A.W.F. (1960) On the size of families containing twins. Ann. hum. Genet. 24, 309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scragg, R.F.R. & Walsh, R.J. (1970) A high incidence of multiple births in one area of New Britain. Hum. Biol. 42, 442.Google Scholar
Stewart, A. & Barber, R. (1963) Data on paternal age, sibship size and twins. Ann. hum. Genet. 27, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wyshak, G. & White, C. (1965) Number of sibs preceding, and the number following, the birth of twins. Ann. hum. Genet. 28, 257.Google Scholar