title: Analysis of birth intervals in a non-contracepting Indian population: an evolutionary ecological approach.
abstract: Reproductive strategies are related to ecological constraints. This paper examines data on early birth spacing in a scheduled caste, Bengali-speaking, non-contracepting population of the Karimganj district of southern Assam, India, taking an evolutionary ecological perspective. It is found that on average birth intervals closed by boy-boy are longer than those closed by girl-girl. Birth spacing tends to be longer among upper-income and Craftsman sub-caste mothers. The presence of a 'grandmother' in the household shortens spacing. These findings are compatible with an evolutionary-based reproductive decision-making process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195-3100, USA.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Leonetti
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001721:Birth Intervals; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003657:Decision Making; D004463:Ecology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007194:India; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012723:Sex; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires