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Analysis of Multiple Birth Rates in Japan. II. Secular Trend and Effect of Birth Order, Maternal Age, and Gestational Age in Stillbirth Rate of Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Yoko Imaizumi
Affiliation:
Institute of Population Problems, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tokyo
Akio Asaka
Affiliation:
Institute of Brain Research, University of Tokyo School of Medicine
Eiji Inouye
Affiliation:
Institute of Brain Research, University of Tokyo School of Medicine

Abstract

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Stillbirth rates of MZ and DZ twins in Japan gradually decreased during the period 1960–1967 and in 1974. The stillbirth rates of MZ and DZ twins were 0.270 and 0.224 in 1960, respectively, whereas the corresponding figures in 1974 were 0.135 and 0.099. The stillbirth rate was higher in MZ than DZ twins, in males than females, and in the second- than in the first-born. In both zygosities, the rates were higher in the first birth order than in the second, and then increased with birth order except in the sixth birth or more for MZ twins and for DZ twins born to mothers aged 35–39 years. The shorter the gestational age, the higher the stillbirth rate in both MZ and DZ twins, as expected. Mean gestational age was slightly shorter in MZ than in DZ twins. The decrease of the stillbirth rates can be explained partly by the reduction of twins with higher birth order, where high stillbirth rates of MZ and DZ twins are seen, and the reduction of older mothers.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1980

References

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