A review on the relationship between marital adjustment and maternal attachment

Summary Objective: To determine the relationship between marital adjustment of mothers who have babies between 1-4 months old and their maternal attachment; as well as the relationship of maternal attachment and marital adjustment with sociodemographic characteristics. Method: The research is descriptive and correlational. Its sample consists of 113 mothers. Maternal Attachment Index (MAI) and Marital Adjustment Scale (MAS) are used as data collection tools. Results: We found that, for mothers who participated in this research, the average level of maternal attachment is 92.17 ± 8.49, and the average level of marital adjustment is 43.06 ± 7.90. We discovered that the maternal attachment level is higher for mothers who have completed high school and university, those who breastfeed their babies exclusively and whose spouses help care for the baby. We also discovered that the Marital Adjustment Score is higher among mothers who are employed, get married by companionship (not arranged), continue attending pregnancy classes and whose duration of marriage is between 1-5 years and 10-15 years. There is weak positive relationship (r=0.38; p=0.00) between marital adjustment and maternal attachment; and the regression analysis that is run to explain this relationship is statistically significant (F=26.131; p<0.05). Conclusion: In our study, the level of maternal attachment was high, while the level of marital adjustment was liminal. There are many factors affecting sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy and baby care. The level of marital adjustment for mothers increases the maternal attachment.

Exposure to intimate partner violence and malnutrition among young adult Bangladeshi women: cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample / Exposição à violência entre parceiros íntimos e desnutrição entre mulheres jovens de Bangladesh: um estudo transversal de uma amostra nacional representativa / Exposición a la violencia doméstica y malnutrición entre mujeres adultas jóvenes bangladesíes: estudio transversal de una muestra representativa nacionalmente

Abstract: This study explores the relationship between malnutrition and intimate partner violence (IPV) among 1,086 young adult Bangladeshi women aged 15-24 years using a cross-sectional data from the 2007 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS). About one-third (33.4%) young adult women experienced physical and/or sexual IPV, 14.5% experienced only sexual IPV and 29% experienced only physical IPV by husbands. About 32.6% young adult women were reported as being underweight (BMI < 18.5) and 6.2% were overweight (BMI ≥ 25). Underweight women experienced more physical IPV (OR = 1.39; 95%CI: 1.09-2.71) and physical and/or sexual IPV (OR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.12-2.75) than normal range women. Results also indicate a positive association between being overweight/obese and all the forms of IPV. The study findings indicate that the IPV experience plays a significant role in underweight and overweight/obese young adult women and support that younger women's health and nutrition program and policies need to address IPV.

Resumo: O estudo explora as relações entre desnutrição e violência entre parceiros íntimos (VPI) em uma amostra de 1.086 mulheres adultas jovens (15-24 anos) de Bangladesh, usando dados transversais do Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) de 2007. Cerca de um terço (33,4%) dessas mulheres relataram terem sofrido VPI física e/ou sexual, 14,5% apenas VPI sexual e 29% apenas VPI física praticada pelo marido. Cerca de 32,6% das mulheres adultas jovens eram desnutridas (IMC < 18,5), enquanto 6,2% apresentavam sobrepeso (IMC ≥ 25). As mulheres com baixo peso sofriam mais VPI física (OR = 1,39; IC95%: 1,09-2,71) e VPI física e/ou sexual (OR = 1,48; IC95%: 1,12-2,75) quando comparadas às mulheres eutróficas. Os resultados também indicam uma associação positiva entre sobrepeso/obesidade e todas as formas de VPI. Os achados indicam que a exposição à VPI tem um papel significativo na experiência das adultas jovens de baixo peso e com sobrepeso/obesidade e confirmam que são necessários programas e políticas nutricionais e de saúde para as mulheres jovens de Bangladesh.

Resumen: Este estudio explora la relación entre la malnutrición y violencia doméstica (IPV por sus siglas en inglés) entre 1.086 mujeres adultas jóvenes bangladesíes, con una edad entre 15-24 años, usando datos de un estudio transversal, procedentes del 2007 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS). Cerca de un tercio (33,4%) de las mujeres adultas jóvenes sufrieron violencia física y/o sexual IPV, 14,5% sufrieron sólo sexual IPV, y un 29% sufrieron sólo física IPV por parte de sus maridos. Cerca de un 32,6% de las mujeres adultas jóvenes se encontraban por debajo del peso ideal (IMC < 18,5) y un 6,2% tenían sobrepeso (BMI ≥ 25). Las mujeres con el peso por debajo del apropiado sufrían más violencia física IPV (OR = 1,39; IC95%: 1,09-2,71) y física y/o sexual IPV (OR = 1,48; IC95%: 1,12-2,75), en comparación con el rango normal de mujeres. Los resultados también indican una asociación positiva entre sufrir sobrepeso/obesidad y todas las formas de IPV. Los hallazgos del estudio indican que sufrir IPV tiene un papel significativo en el peso por debajo del peso ideal y con sobrepeso/obesas de las mujeres adultas jóvenes y el apoyo a salud de estas mujeres más jóvenes, que necesitan tanto programas de nutrición, como políticas especialmente dirigidas a mujeres que sufren violencia doméstica.

Ética em pesquisa na dinâmica do campo científico: desafios na construção de diretrizes para ciências humanas e sociais / Research ethics in the dynamic of scientific field: challenges in the building of guidelines for social sciences and humanities

ResumoA elaboração de diretrizes para a apreciação ética de pesquisas em ciências humanas e sociais (CHS) se efetiva no campo científico, espaço marcado por disputas voltadas ao estabelecimento do padrão hegemônico de cientificidade. No Brasil, cabe ao Conselho Nacional de Saúde aprovar essas diretrizes, o que envolve certas especificidades. Com base na vivência das autoras no Grupo de Trabalho CHS da Comissão Nacional de Ética em Pesquisa (GT CHS/CONEP), este manuscrito apresenta o processo de elaboração de uma resolução para CHS e alguns dos seus desafios: a distância entre a garantia legal e a efetivação de diretrizes; a hegemonia biomédica e a posição marginal das CHS no Sistema CEP/CONEP; a inadequação da atual resolução ante as características da pesquisa em CHS; e o emprego do conceito de risco, em diretrizes voltadas a CHS no espaço da saúde. Discutem-se ainda interfaces e tensões no debate entre mérito científico e avaliação ética. A análise evidencia importantes impasses e dificuldades concernentes ao diálogo interparadigmático na pesquisa em saúde, consideradas as características das distintas tradições, a ancoragem da CONEP na perspectiva positivista e a defesa da hegemonia dessa tradição.

AbstractThe development of guidelines on research ethics for social science and humanities (SSH) takes place in the scientific field, marked by disputes aimed at the establishment of hegemonic scientific standard. In Brazil, the National Health Council is responsible for approving these guidelines, which involve certain specificities. Based on the authors' experience in the SSH Working Group of the National Commission on Research Ethics (GT CHS / CONEP), this article presents the process of development of guidelines for SSH, and some its challenges: the distance between the statutory guarantee and the effective execution of guidelines; the biomedical hegemony and the marginal position of the SSH in the CEP / CONEP system; the inadequacy of the current resolution facing the research features in CHS; the use of the concept of risk in guidelines aimed at SSH in the health area. Some interfaces and tensions in the debate between scientific merit and ethical evaluation are also discussed. The analysis highlights important impasses and difficulties regarding inter-paradigmatic dialogue in health research, considered the characteristics of the different traditions, the CONEP's heavily relying on the positivist perspective and the defense of that paradigm hegemony.

Use of traditional contraceptive methods in India & its socio-demographic determinants.

Background & objectives: The high use of traditional contraceptive methods may have health repercussions on both partners. High failure rate, lack of protection from sexually transmitted diseases are some of the examples of these repercussions. The aim of this study was to understand the level, trends, pattern, volume and socio-demographic determinants of using traditional contraceptive methods in the Indian context. Methods: Percentages, per cent distribution, cross-tabulation and multinomial logistic regression analyses were carried out. The data from the three rounds of National Family Health survey (NFHS) were used. The unit level district level household survey (2007-2008) were mainly used to carry out the analysis in this paper. Marriage rates for States and Union Territories (UTs) were projected for the period of 2001-2011 to estimate the volume of traditional contraceptive users. These rates are required to get the number of eligible couples as on 2011 in the respective state/UT. Results: The latest round of the district level household survey (2007-2008) revealed that 6.7 per cent currently married women were using traditional contraceptive methods in India. More than half of the currently married women (56%) have ever used these methods. In terms of socio-demographic determinants, the odds ratios of using these methods were significantly higher for women aged 35 years and above, rural, Hindu, other than Scheduled Castes/Tribes (SCs/STs), secondary and above educated, non-poor, having two plus living children, and at least one surviving son in most of the states as well as at the national level. The northeastern region showed higher odds ratios (5 times) of women using traditional contraceptive methods than the southern region. Interpretation & conclusions: A large number of currently married women have ever used the traditional contraceptive methods in India. On the basis of the findings from this study, the total size of those women who were using traditional methods and those who were having unmet need, and are required to use modern spacing methods of family planning in achieving the reproductive goals, is around 53 million. Women from a set of specific socio-demographic backgrounds are more likely to use these methods. A regional pattern has also emerged in use of tradition contraceptive methods in India.

Padrões de casamento dos imigrantes brasileiros residentes em Portugal / Patrones de matrimonio de los inmigrantes brasileños residentes en Portugal / /Marriage patterns of Brazilian immigrants living in Portugal

Ao longo das últimas décadas, o número de estrangeiros residentes em Portugal aumentou de forma expressiva. Neste contexto, a comunidade brasileira assumiu uma importância cada vez maior, sendo em 2009 a nacionalidade mais representada, com uma participação de 25% no total de residentes estrangeiros em Portugal. Esta evolução tem, como seria de se esperar, reflexos a outros níveis, em particular no contexto do casamento. Contrariando a tendência decrescente observada para o total de casamentos ocorridos entre 2001 e 2009, aqueles em que pelo menos um dos cônjuges nasceu no Brasil quase quadruplicaram nesse período. Para muitos autores, os casamentos mistos são um bom indicador da integração das comunidades imigrantes na sociedade de acolhimento. Assim, dada a importância da comunidade brasileira residente em Portugal, é relevante observar qual o peso dos casamentos mistos nesta comunidade e analisar seus padrões de matrimônio. A análise estatística dos microdados dos casamentos disponibilizados pelo Instituto Nacional de Estatística possibilitou estudar e caraterizar a evolução dos casamentos registrados em Portugal, entre 2001 e 2009, envolvendo brasileiros residentes em Portugal. Ficou patente a existência de um elevado nível de casamentos mistos, em especial com portugueses, neste período, o que indicia sua integração na comunidade de acolhimento. Verificaram-se igualmente algumas diferenças nos padrões de matrimônio entre os sexos, bem como uma tendência para a diminuição da importância dos casamentos mistos, em especial entre os homens.

A lo largo de las últimas décadas, el número de extranjeros residentes en Portugal aumentó de forma expresiva. En este contexto, la comunidad brasileña asumió una importancia cada vez mayor, siendo en 2009 la nacionalidad más representativa, con una cuota de residentes del 25% en el total de población extranjera en Portugal. Esta evolución tiene, como cabría esperar, reflejos en otros niveles, en particular en el contexto del matrimonio. Contrariando la tendencia decreciente, observada para el total de matrimonios producidos entre 2001 y 2009, aquellos en que por lo menos uno de los cónyuges nació en Brasil casi se cuadruplicaron en ese período. Para muchos autores, los matrimonios mixtos son un buen indicador de la integración de las comunidades inmigrantes en la sociedad de acogida. Así pues, dada la importancia de la comunidad brasileña residente en Portugal, es relevante observar cuál es el peso de los matrimonios mixtos en esta comunidad y analizar sus patrones de matrimonio. El análisis estadístico de los microdatos de los matrimonios, puestos a nuestra disposición por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística, posibilitó estudiar y caracterizar la evolución de los matrimonios registrados en Portugal, entre 2001 y 2009, involucrando a brasileños residentes en Portugal. Quedó patente la existencia de un elevado nivel de matrimonios mixtos, en especial con portugueses, durante este período, lo que indicia su integración en la comunidad de acogida. Se verificaron igualmente algunas diferencias en los patrones de matrimonio entre los sexos, así como una tendencia a la disminución de la importancia de los matrimonios mixtos, en especial entre los hombres.

Over the past decades, the number of foreign residents in Portugal has increased significantly. In this context, the Brazilian community is of increasing importance, and was, in 2009, the most represented nationality, with a 25% share in the total of foreign residents in Portugal. As expected, this development reflects on other levels, particularly in the context of marriage. Contrary to the downward trend observed for total marriages occurring between 2001 and 2009, those in which at least one spouse was born in Brazil almost quadrupled during the period. For many authors, mixed marriages are a good indicator of immigrant community integration in the host society. Thus, given the prominence of the Brazilian community in Portugal, it is important to observe the relevance of mixed marriages in this community and to analyze marriage patterns. Statistical analysis of microdata from weddings provided by the National Statistics Institute led us to study and characterize the possible evolution of marriages registered in Portugal between 2001 and 2009 and involving Brazilians living in Portugal. During this period there was a high number of mixed marriages, especially with Portuguese nationals, suggesting an integration with the host community. There were also some differences in the patterns of marriage between the sexes, as well as a tendency to a decreasing importance of mixed marriages, especially among men.

Padrões de nupcialidade na economia cafeeira de São Paulo (1860-1930) / Marriage patterns in São Paulo coffee economy (1860-1930) / /Patrones de nupcialidad en la economía cafetera de Sao Paulo (1860-1930)

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar e discutir as pautas matrimoniais vigentes em um município típico da economia cafeeira paulista, entre 1860 e 1930, tomando tal variável como indicador do vigor da identidade étnica e do grau de assimilação dos estrangeiros na sociedade local. São Carlos foi fundado em 1857 e conformou-se, a partir da penúltima década do século XIX, como um município bastante representativo da economia cafeeira que se desenvolveu no Estado. De fato, com uma mão de obra inicialmente composta por escravos negros, a partir dos anos 1880 o município passou a receber expressivas levas de imigrantes europeus - italianos, portugueses, espanhóis e outros numericamente menos significativos - para trabalhar nas plantações de café, a ponto de, em 1894, ter recebido o maior contingente de imigrantes de todo o interior paulista. A partir de uma análise dos 15.011 registros paroquiais de casamento observados no período, o trabalho discute a evolução das preferências matrimoniais desses diversos grupos que, ao lado de brasileiros brancos e negros, conformaram uma população estimada em 60 mil indivíduos em 1930. Os dados analisados indicam que a origem nacional atuou como condicionante muito significativo das opções matrimoniais efetivamente concretizadas até pelo menos final dos anos 1920. Assim, as evidências colhidas apontam que pelo menos as primeiras duas gerações de indivíduos de origem imigrante, que viveram em São Carlos até a Grande Depressão do final da década de 1920, mostraram-se bastante resistentes ao processo de assimilação, pelo menos sob o ângulo das pautas matrimoniais.

This paper discusses marriage patterns in a representative city in the state of São Paulo during the coffee economy of 1860-1930. It takes these patterns as indicators of the strength of ethnic identities and of the assimilation of European immigrants in the local society. The city of São Carlos was founded in 1857 and by the late 19th century, it can be seen as fairly typical of the coffee economy that developed in the state of São Paulo. In fact, with a workforce initially composed of African slaves, from the 1880s the city began to receive significant waves of European immigrants - Italians, Portuguese, Spanish and other less numerically significant - for work on coffee plantations, to the point that, in the year of 1894, it received the highest number of immigrants in all of the state, except for the capital. From an analysis of 15,011 parish registers of marriage observed in the period, this paper discusses the evolution of marriage preferences among diverse groups that, alongside black and white Brazilians, conformed an estimated population of 60,000 individuals in 1930. The data analyzed indicate that national origin served as very significant determinant of marital options effectively implemented until at least the late 1920s. Thus, the evidence gathered indicates that at least the first two generations of persons of immigrant origins, living in São Carlos until the Great Depression in the late 1920s, were quite resistant to the process of assimilation, at least in regards to marriage patterns.

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar y discutir las pautas matrimoniales vigentes en un municipio típico de la economía cafetera paulista, entre 1860 y 1930, tomando tal variable como un indicador del vigor de la identidad étnica y del grado de asimilación de los extranjeros en la sociedad local. San Carlos fue fundado en 1857 y se convirtió, a partir de la penúltima década del siglo XIX, en un municipio bastante representativo de la economía cafetera que se desarrolló en el estado de Sao Paulo. De hecho, con una mano de obra inicialmente compuesta por esclavos negros, a partir del año 1880 y en adelante, el municipio pasó a recibir ingentes masas de inmigrantes europeos - italianos, portugueses, españoles y otros numéricamente menos significativos- para trabajar en las plantaciones de café, hasta el punto de que, en 1894, había recibido el mayor contingente de inmigrantes de todo el interior del estado de Sao Paulo. A partir de un análisis de los 15.011 registros parroquiales de matrimonio observados en el período, el trabajo discute la evolución de las preferencias matrimoniales de esos diversos grupos que, junto a los brasileños blancos y negros, conformaron una población estimada en 60 mil individuos en 1930. Los datos analizados indican que el origen nacional actuó como un condicionante muy significativo en las opciones matrimoniales, efectivamente consumadas en matrimonios, hasta por lo menos final de los años veinte del siglo pasado. Así pues, las evidencias recogidas apuntan a que por lo menos las primeras dos generaciones de individuos de origen inmigrante, que vivieron en San Carlos hasta la Gran Depresión del final de la década de 1920, se mostraron bastante resistentes al proceso de asimilación, por lo menos bajo el ángulo de las pautas matrimoniales.

Resultados perinatais nos extremos da vida reprodutiva e fatores associados ao baixo peso ao nascer / Resultados perinatales en los extremos de la vida reproductiva y factores asociados al bajo peso al nacer / Perinatal outcomes in the extremes of reproductive age and factors associated with low weight at birth

Objetivou-se investigar os resultados perinatais nos extremos da vida reprodutiva e verificar os fatores de risco para o baixo peso ao nascer. Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo dos partos ocorridos no município de Sarandi, Paraná, no ano de 2008, a partir de consultas aos dados do Sistema de Informação de Nascidos Vivos. As 331 gestantes foram subdivididas em dois grupos: adolescentes (10-19 anos) e tardias (35 anos ou mais). As taxas de parto cesáreo foram significativamente maiores (66,1 por cento) nas gestantes com 35 anos ou mais do que nas adolescentes (26,8 por cento). Quanto aos fatores de risco para o baixo peso ao nascer, observou-se que este esteve fortemente associado com prematuridade e o estado civil. Os resultados perinatais das gestantes com 35 anos ou mais não apresentaram diferença significativa quando comparados aos resultados das adolescentes, confirmando a ocorrência de resultados adversos nos dois extremos da vida reprodutiva, exceto pela ocorrência de parto cesáreo.

El objetivo fue investigar los resultados perinatales en los extremos de la vida reproductiva y verificar los factores de riesgo de bajo peso al nacer. Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo de partos ocurridos en Municipio de Sarandi, Paraná, Brasil, en año de 2008, a partir de consultas a datos del Sistema de Información de Nacidos Vivos. Las 331 embarazadas se dividieron en dos grupos: adolescentes (10-19 años) y tardías (35 años o más). Las tasas de parto cesáreo fue significativamente mayor (66,1 por ciento) en embarazadas con 35 años o más de que en los adolescentes (26,8 por ciento). En cuanto los factores de riesgo de bajo peso al nacer, se observó que éste estuvo fuertemente asociado con prematuras y estado civil. Los resultados perinatales de embarazadas con 35 años o más no presentaron diferencia significativa en comparación con los resultados de los adolescentes, lo que confirma lo aparición de resultados adversos en los extremos da vida reproductiva, excepto por ocurrencia de parto cesáreo.

The objective was to investigate perinatal outcomes in the extremes of reproductive age and verify the risk factors for low birth weight. This is a retrospective study was performed of deliveries in the city of Sarandi, state of Paraná, Brazil, in 2008, by accessing data from the Information System on Live Births. The 331 expectant mothers were subdivided into two groups: adolescents (10-19 years of age) and late-age mothers (35 years or older). Rates of cesarean deliveries were significantly higher (66.1 percent) in mothers 35 or older than in adolescents (26.8 percent). Regarding risk factors for low weight at birth, it was observed that this condition was strongly associated with prematurity and marital status. The perinatal outcomes of mothers 35 or older were not significantly different when compared to the results of the adolescents, confirming the occurrence of adverse results in both extremes of reproductive age, except for the incidence of cesarean delivery.

Frequency and characteristics of induced abortion among married and single women in São Paulo, Brazil / Aborto provocado: sua dimensão e características entre mulheres solteiras e casadas da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil

This article presents the results of a study in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, aimed at estimating the frequency of induced abortion among women 15 to 49 years of age. The objective was to characterize the occurrence of induced abortion by comparing the ideal number of children, age, and contraceptive use between married and single women. Based on random sampling, 1,749 interviews were held, including 764 married women, 658 single women, and 327 with other marital status. The analysis included: mean number of abortions per woman by analysis of variance and proportions of abortions and pregnancy, using the chi-square test. The mean abortion rate for married women (45 per thousand) did not differ statistically from that of single women. However, the pregnancy rate was much lower in single women, and when single women became pregnant they used abortion more frequently; while fewer than 2 percent of pregnancies in married women ended in induced abortions, among single women the abortion rate exceeded 18 percent. Therefore, the priority in the reproductive health field should be to invest in the supply and dissemination of appropriate contraceptive methods for women's early sexually active life.

Apresenta-se uma pesquisa realizada na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil, para dimensionar o aborto provocado entre mulheres de 15 a 49 anos. O objetivo é caracterizar a ocorrência do aborto provocado analisando o número ideal de filhos, idade e uso de contraceptivos comparando-se as casadas e solteiras. Mediante sorteio aleatório foram realizadas 1.749 entrevistas, sendo 764 com mulheres casadas, 658 com solteiras e 327 de outras categorias maritais. A análise inclui: a média de abortos por mulher, por meio de análise de variância e proporções de aborto e de gestação, usando-se o teste do qui-quadrado. Verificou-se que a média de abortos, 45 por mil, por mulheres casadas não difere da das solteiras. No entanto, as solteiras engravidam numa escala muito menor e, ao engravidarem, recorrem mais largamente ao aborto provocado - enquanto que menos de 2 por cento das gestações das casadas resultam em aborto provocado, entre aquelas esta cifra supera 18 por cento. A prioridade na área de saúde reprodutiva, sem dúvida, deve ser investir na oferta e divulgação de métodos contraceptivos adequados ao início da vida sexual.

A study of marriage and first child bearing pattern on Jirel community of Nepal.

This study was carried out through July 2005 to October 2005 in Jirel community of Eastern Nepal to find out the marriage, first child bearing pattern and educational influences. Total of 121 women were included in the descriptive study applying systematic sampling method. The average median age of marriage in female and male were 18 and 22 years respectively whereas median age at first childbirth was 20 years. 53.72% girls were illiterate and 36.36% had completed 5 years of schooling at their first marriage, but 46.28% male had completed 10 years of schooling before getting married and irrespective of their level of education, 62.81% of girls got married with in 15-19 years of age. 64.46% women gave birth to their first baby within one year of marriage. 80.16% pregnant women underwent Antenatal Check-up (ANC) for three or more times and 29.75% delivered on health institutions whereas 24.79% delivered at home with trained health manpower.

Do adolescents support early marriage in Bangladesh? Evidence from study.

Adolescence is a critical period for female adolescents as they have to make decisions regarding their marriage, education and work which would influence and determine their future course of life. Although, early marriage has negative consequences, still a proportion of female adolescents favour early marriage because of prevailing cultural norms. This paper attempts to investigate the factors influencing the adolescents' attitude towards early marriage among the married and unmarried female adolescents. This is a quantitative and qualitative study. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select the sample. For quantitative results, data on 3362 female adolescents from rural and urban areas irrespective of their marital status were analyzed. To supplement the results found in quantitative analysis, a series of focus group discussions were conducted among the adolescents. Analysis revealed that one fourth (25.9%) of the adolescents were in favour of early marriage. A number of societal factors influenced them towards early marriage, despite the fact that adolescents are aware of the consequences of maternal and child health. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that current marital status, years of schooling, work status and parental marital decision are important predictors of early marriage (p < 0.05). The study concluded that female education would be an important determinant of adolescent marriage. Therefore, opportunities and scope of education beyond secondary would helps to bring change in the attitude towards early marriage.

¿Qué debemos mejorar en el registro de las estadísticas vitales? / What should we improve in the registration of vital statistics?

El objetivo de esta nota es alertar al lector, mediante una serie de evidencias empíricas, sobre algunos problemas que han afectado la calidad de los datos que ha producido en años recientes el sistema de estadísticas vitales en la ciudad. Se han tomado como referencia los diagnósticos que habitualmente se elaboran en la Dirección General de Estadística y Censos, en el marco de la Comisión Permanente ad hoc para el Mejoramiento de las Estadísticas Vitales de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Por otro lado, a partir del año 2001, momento en el que se comienza a codificar el lugar de ocurrencia, y con el objeto de observar si la distribución de los "ignorados" es diferencial según establecimiento, para los nacimientos y las defunciones el análisis se efectúa según el establecimiento asistencial donde ocurrió el hecho. (AU)

Duration and determinants of interbirth interval: community-based survey of women in southern Jordan

The duration and determinants of interbirth intervals among women of reproductive age in Karak, Jordan were examined in October 2003. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 1109 ever-married women aged 15-49 years who contributed to 4349 interbirth intervals. Data were obtained by interview questionnaire and analysed with life table, Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses. The median interbirth interval was 27.40 months. Longer interbirth interval was independently predicted by breastfeeding > or = 12 months, modern contraceptive use and pregnancy wastage; by more surviving children, presence of boys only or both boys and girls at the interval onset; by woman's higher education, older age and longer marriage; and by ideal spacing conforming with family planning norms. Concerted efforts to encourage modern contraceptive use, extend breastfeeding, promote small family size, address gender preferences and reinforce the minimum age at marriage should be made