[Trends in multiple births in Israel].
This study examines trends in multiple births in Israel and compares the Jewish and Arab populations. Multiple births increased 150% in the last three decades. Young mothers to multiples were more frequent in the Arab population (eight times and twice the level for age <20 years and 20-24 years, respectively), whereas older mothers of multiples were more frequent in the Jewish population (twice and six times the level for age 40-44 years, and >45 years, respectively). As expected, triplets were more often represented among low birth weight infants. The incidence of multiples was higher in the Jewish population; however, the trend for Jewish triplets seems to decrease as opposed to the increasing trend in the Arab population. The skyrocketing increased incidence of multiple births is explained by the special significance attributed to motherhood in the Israeli society, which is met by the socio-political milieu and the availability of assisted reproductive technologies. Differences in the incidence of multiples between the Arab and Jewish populations are partly explained by the younger age at first delivery of Arab women.
Blickstein
Isaac
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot. blick@netvision.net.il
Baor
Liora
L
D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy