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AbstractThe aim of the study was to assess, using population-based data, trends and regional variations in multiple births during the period of increasing use and changes in practice patterns for infertility treatments. National data for 24,554,977 births (live births and stillbirths) were used, including 569,423 twins during the period 1972 to 2003, and 14,599 triplets for 1984 to 2003. Statistical analyses included age-adjusted hierarchical logistic regression models for twin births and separate analyses for triple, same-sex, and different-sex twin births. Due to confidentiality considerations, the only variable available for adjustment was maternal age. Regionallevel variations were estimated using median odds ratios based on random-intercept hierarchical logistic regression models. Overall, twin births increased from 18.1 per 1000 births (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.9–18.2) in 1972 to 1975 to 29.9 per 1000 (95% CI 29.7–30.1) in 2000 to 2003. Twin births increased progressively across all regions, whereas triple births reached a peak in the early 1990s and decreased thereafter. Trends for both twin and triple births varied significantly across regions. Both trends and regional variations were greater for different-sex as compared with same-sex twin births. Regional variations in the proportion of multiple births increased in the case of twin births and decreased for triple births. Differences in multiple births at the regional level in France were comparable to country-level differences observed across several western and northern European countries. Regional differences in multiple births need to be monitored and used to inform policies aimed at regulating the use of infertility treatments.

Abstract
This study assessed the trends in twin births and their survival in Bangladesh by analyzing over a quarter million live births during 1970–2018, pooled from all eight rounds of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. In these five decades, the twinning rate increased by 1.5 times, from 5.8 to 8.6 twins per 1000 maternities. The decadal twinning rates varied across maternal age, parity, body mass index, household wealth index, and geographic region. The gap in decadal neonatal, infant, and under-five cumulative survival probability between singleton and multiple births was found to be closing, using Kaplan-Meier curves. Child mortality decreased by 80% and 60% in singleton and multiple births respectively. However, the absolute size of child mortality in multiple births remained six times higher than in singletons and was concentrated in the neonatal period. The share of multiple births surged in all types of child mortality. We predict a further and faster rise in multiple births in the coming decades in the face of upward trends in maternal age overlapping with higher parities, education, career prospects, contraceptive use, and the future demand-supply of assisted reproductive technology. A particular focus on the improvement of perinatal and neonatal care with wider availability is warranted. Otherwise, increased multiple births might raise child mortality and create public health challenges.

This article examines trends over time in the propensity to volunteer as a charitable trustee in England and Wales. It makes use of unique, newly available administrative data. The results show sizeable, progressive and extensive declines in trusteeship by birth cohort: compared to the 1945 birth cohort, more recent cohorts through to 1980 show successively lower propensities to volunteer. These results represent the strongest empirical evidence to date in support of sociological theory which argues that the nature of volunteering is changing, with a reduction in a 'collective' style of volunteering characterised by long-term, regular and intensive commitment. The results also highlight a key challenge for policy: to sustain the voluntary work of trustee boards – which lies at the 'heart' of what it means to be a charity – in the context of sizeable cohort declines in the propensity to serve.

Low birth weight and preterm babies have been increasing in Spain since 1980, coinciding with important changes in the social and demographic structure of childbearing populations—including the contribution of a 25% of foreign mothers—and with increasing medical intervention in births. This study, based on 5,990,613 births, compares the temporary trends in reproductive patterns and birth outcomes in Spanish and foreign mothers during the period 1996–2009 and evaluates for the years 2007 to 2009 the relative contribution of mother's origin and Caesarean section to birth weight variability. Foreign mothers maintain their own reproductive pattern, whereas negative birth outcomes increase in all groups. Results from logistic regression analysis show that besides late maternity and primiparity also Caesarean section increases the risk for low birth weight. The reduction in Caesarean section rates between 2007 and 2009 might explain the reduction of low birth weight detected. A change of tendency simultaneously appears in most maternal and newborn characteristics, and in the mode of delivery in all ethnic groups since 2008. Coincidence in the timing of the change of trends points to a common factor. We suggest that the current world financial crisis could be this common cause, a hypothesis to be contrasted in future research.

Published here is a Stata Do-File in which all data transformations and calculations for the reference publication are included (replication material).

For decades, many studies have linked maternal smoking to an increased risk of preterm birth. As a result, the scientific community has long hypothesized that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), commonly referred to as second-hand smoke, is also associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. Multiple studies have examined this proposed association through different strategies and approaches. Recently, a small number of epidemiology studies have examined preterm birth trends before and after the implementation of anti-smoking legislation in various jurisdictions. We found that these studies have largely revealed a significant trend of decreasing population-level preterm birth rates after the implementation of smoking bans. However, most of the studies reviewed did not distinguish the impact of maternal smoking from ETS in their analyses, making it difficult to specifically evaluate the effects of smoking bans on ETS exposure. Other studies have taken the approach of directly measuring maternal ETS exposure and associations with preterm birth within particular study populations. In contrast to smoking ban studies, the latter group of studies had more inconclusive results. The use of a variety of exposure assessment methods ranging from different self-reporting techniques to biomarker measurements posed a challenge to compare studies. We evaluated current scientific literature for evidence of an association between maternal ETS exposure and risk of preterm birth. We also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches to study this association, as well as methods used for ETS exposure assessment. We propose that more studies, specifically, evaluating rates of preterm birth among non-smoking women before and after smoking bans, are needed, as well as using better ETS exposure assessments methods in studies measuring maternal ETS exposure.

This paper analyzes the contemporary demographic processes and trends in the case of the region Polimlje-Ibar. Population analyzed area is characterized by a steady decline in relation to the dynamics of the population Montenegro. Thus in 1948 the population of the region is seemed 26,8% of the population Montenegro and in 2003 19,0%. The age structure of the population the region Polimlje-Ibar, due to migration and reducing birth rate is changed and takes on unfavorable characteristics - reduces the proportion of younger, while increasing the share of the elderly population. In both cases deranged age structure has feedback influence on the movement of population (size reproductive contingent), but also to all other population structure (size of the working population, the active population, schools compulsory contingent relationship serving a), which are essential for the development of population and economic activity in the region. Despite significant changes in all demographic structure of the region Polimlje-Ibar, has the characteristics of ethnically very heterogeneous environment. The current demographic situation and future demographic processes that have determined the legality of long-term demographic inertia, has become a limiting factor in the overall economic and social development.

"The population projections by the German Federal Statistical Office show a likely decrease in the number of births in the 2020s. This development will be the result of a declining number of prospective mothers combined with an assumed continued low fertility rate. Given the available empirical findings prior to the 2011 census, there was no indication that a possible distinct rise in the fertility rate in the next decade would compensate for the declining number of potential mothers. However, the 2011 census led to revisions in the population size, age structure and consequently in relative fertility measures such as period and cohort fertility rates. The objective of this article is to quantify the effects of the 2011 census on these fertility statistics and to check the validity of previous findings for fertility trends on the census-adjusted data basis. A special focus is laid on analyses of the cohort fertility and the consequences of ever-later entry into motherhood on the completed fertility and on parity distribution. Using numerous findings, we will show that a continuous rise in the completed fertility in the coming two decades cannot be realised without a reversal of fertility behaviour. A greater increase in fertility from the age of 30 onwards would be necessary to offset the decrease in fertility for ages under 30 - a trend which intensified with cohort 1974 - and thereby stabilise the total cohort fertility rate at a relatively low level between 1.5 and 1.6 births per woman. A rise and subsequent stabilisation of the total cohort fertility rate at the level of at least 1.6 births per woman would, additionally, necessitate a trend reversal in the development of childlessness and distinct changes in birth timing." (author's abstract). Documentation s.: http://dx.doi.org/10.12765/CPoS-2016-07en