The geographic distribution of the Smiths and Joneses among all persons married in England and Wales in 3 months of 1975 showed well defined frequency clines comparable to those of blood group distributions. Polynomial regressions of relative frequencies of these surnames on latitude and longitude account for 12% and 36% of the variation among registration districts in frequency of Smiths and Joneses, respectively.

This paper considers two main issues: the definition of Henry's concept of natural fertility, and the use of standard age-specific marital fertility schedules to measure the extent of fertility control. It suggests that regional as well as temporal variations are to be expected in the pattern of marital fertility and in consequence argues the need for a variety of standard marital fertility schedules specific to the underlying fertility conditions of the particular population under investigation. A detailed example drawn from the fertility patterns of Britain, Denmark and Sweden is presented.

Data collected on fertility and family planning between November 1979 and March 1980 in eight provinces of Papua New Guinea (PNG) are presented in this report. Interviews with 2923 rural and 3360 urban male and female respondents found attitudes favouring large families. There was a relatively high level of contraceptive awareness, but the overall practice of modern contraception in both rural and urban areas is low. Despite the rural–urban differences in socioeconomic levels, awareness of family planning is only slightly higher among the urban respondents. The level of usage for the urban respondents is slightly higher than for the rural respondents.

In contrast to the USA and the UK, vasectomy is less popular than tubal ligation in Australia, and this may reflect differences in husband-wife communication. Using data from the 1979 Canberra Population Survey, it seemed that although a majority of respondents would use sterilization, female sterilization would be preferred, largely because males were more resistant to the idea than females. Respondents born outside Australia, the UK, and Eire were more resistant to the idea of sterilization, but reported higher use of tubal ligation.

Using a two-stage stratified sampling procedure, a representative random sample of 1021 rural families in North Arcot District of Tamil Nadu State in South India was studied to determine the inter-relationships of utilization of medical care and health behaviour with social, demographic and economic factors. The research was directed towards a better understanding of how medical and social deprivations are connected in a rural setting of India. Distance from a town, education, and accessibility of medical facilities seem to play a prominent role in the various decision-making processes of the family in utilization of the best available health care and in improving their health status. The policy implications arising from this study are outlined.

This study examines data from 47,238 episodes of hospitalization in New South Wales, Australia, pertaining to the patients suffering from mental disorders, i.e. those patients with a principal diagnosis coded from 290 to 315 inclusive, according to the 8th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.

An overall prevalence of nine episodes of hospitalization due to mental disorders was found per 1000 population per annum. Major disease categories were neuroses and alcoholism (each accounting for 21% of the total episodes) followed by schizophrenia (16%) and affective psychosis (11%); there were substantial differences by age, sex, marital status and ethnic origin.

The prevalence of preferential patrilateral parallel cousin marriage is recognized as a specific trait of the Arabs and their immediate Muslim neighbours. Most earlier studies have been of localized groups, villages or nomadic camps and, despite the urbanization and industrialization occurring in the Middle East, no recent data from urban contexts have been examined. In this paper the genealogical ties between spouses are analysed in a sample of 750 recently married couples from the city of Beirut. Consanguineous marriages are frequent, mainly first-cousin marriages. However, the classical predominance of patrilateral parallel cousin marriage is no longer evident in the most recent generation, which displays an equal preference for all types of cousin marriage. Hence, whereas endogamy persists in this town, its manifestation may well be changing.

Seasonal variations in birthweights over a 10-year period are compared with the local rainfall pattern in a rural area of Tanzania. Mean birthweight falls by about 60 g in the course of the rainy season. Lagged regression analysis reveals a negative impact of rainfall on birthweight after 3 months. Deviations from average rainfall show a positive correlation with birthweight after 4 months, but only in the months when rainfall is critical for food crop production. The interactions of these contrary effects are held responsible for the sudden fluctuations in mean birthweight that were observed.

The demographic structure of the migrant groups of fishermen living in Puri, India, is studied. Data on age, sex, birth place, endogamy, consanguinity, and reproductive histories of 1409 couples and a census of 690 households are utilized. The results suggest the existence of three breeding units within the complex, in different stages of settlement as local populations. Random genetic drift has not yet assumed any significant role in any of these populations. Childhood mortality rates are high; 22% in the Vadabalija of Penticotta, 32% in the Vadabalija of Vadapeta and 35% in the Jalary.

In almost all the components of population structure and demographic variables studied, sympatric populations with similar recent migratory histories show greater similarity than the ethnically similar groups.

In Sri Lanka in the 1920s female mortality exceeded male mortality in almost all age groups: only in infancy and late middle age did male mortality exceed female mortality. Proportionately the greatest female excess was in the childbearing ages. Mortality fell very substantially between 1921 and 1971. However, throughout most of this period the same basic pattern of sex differentials persisted; indeed, between 1921 and 1953 the relative position of women worsened in a number of age groups. Although the original pattern still showed clearly in 1963, by 1971 male mortality exceeded female mortality in almost all age groups: excess female mortality was only found among children. It is possible that discriminatory behaviour played an important part in excess female mortality in Sri Lanka in the past.

A longitudinal, epidemiological study was carried out in a rural area of Kenya with a population of about 28,000 between 1974 and 1980. Population registration during this time showed that population growth was very high between 1974 and 1978 (4·4% per year) and much lower in 1979 and 1980 (1·1%). Natural increase was nearly as high as in Kenya as a whole (3·7%) in this period. Fertility was somewhat lower than in all Kenya (the crude birth rate was 46 per 1000) while mortality was substantially lower (7 per 1000). Evidence is presented supporting the argument that these low mortality rates are genuine. Levels of temporary and permanent migration are high and probably characteristic for many parts of Kenya. The change in population growth in 1979 and 1980 is probably due to changes in economic conditions leading in particular to less in-migration and to more out-migration.