Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-g8tfn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T13:52:30.048Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fertility patterns of two New Guinea populations: Karkar and Lufa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

John M. Stanhope  and
Richard W. Hornabrook
John M. Stanhope
Affiliation:
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Richard W. Hornabrook
Affiliation:
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Fertility in New Guinea highlanders was lower than in the Karkar coastal population. Karkar fertility has been reduced in younger women and this appears to be associated with increased educational opportunity. Polygamy is common in the Highlands but unusual on the coast. Fertility appeared to be unrelated to religious affiliation or employment status. Both communities had some knowledge of contraception, abortion and fertility promotion, and on Karkar there was a knowledge of the advantages of medical advice concerning family planning. Mortality levels in the two communities were comparable, from the mid-trimester of pregnancy through early childhood. The estimated life expectancies at birth are within the accepted range for other areas of New Guinea.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , October 1974 , pp. 439 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Becroft, T.C., Stanhope, J.M. & Burchett, P.M. (1969) Mortality and population trends among the Kyaka Enga, Baiyer Valley. Papua New Guin. med. J. 12, 48.Google Scholar
Dowell, M. & Stanhope, J.M. (1970) Mortality and population trends, Oro Bay, Northern Papua. Papua New Guin. med. J. 13, 132.Google Scholar
Hornabrook, R.W. (1973) A demography of the population of Karkar Island. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (in press).Google Scholar
Jeffcoate, T.N.A. (1967) Principles of Gynaecology. Butterworth, Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Macdonald, R.R. (1971) Scientific Basis of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Churchill, London.Google Scholar
Phillip, E.E., Barnes, J. & Newton, M. (1970) Scientific Foundations of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Heinemann Medical Books, London.Google Scholar
Stanhope, J.M. (1969) Mortality and population growth—Losuia area, Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands. Papua New Guin. med. J. 12, 42.Google Scholar
Stanhope, J.M. (1970) Patterns of fertility in rural New Guinea. New Guinea Res. Bull. 34, 24.Google Scholar
Sturt, R.J. & Stanhope, J.M. (1968) Mortality and population patterns of Anguganak. Papua New Guin. med. J. 11, 111.Google Scholar
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (1967) UN Manual IV: Methods of Estimating Basic Demographic Measures from Incomplete Data, Population Studies, No. 42. UN, New York.Google Scholar
van de Kaa, D.J. (1967) Fertility patterns in New Guinea. An appraisal of present knowledge. International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, Sydney Conference Session V(a), pp. 337–347.Google Scholar
van de Kaa, D.J. (1970) Estimates of vital rates and future growth. New Guinea Res. Bull. 34, 1.Google Scholar