Aspects of neonatal death in St Kilda, 1830-1930

• Published in: Journal of biosocial science Vol. 26; no. 1; p. 97
• Main Authors: Clegg, E J, Cross, J F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-01-1994
• Subjects: Birth Intervals; Birth Order; Discriminant Analysis; Forecasting; Hebrides - epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Infant Mortality - trends; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Age; Population Surveillance; Predictive Value of Tests; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Survival Rate; Hebrides; Age Factors; Infant Mortality; First Birth; Scotland; Infections; Birth Intervals; Technical Report; Parental Age; Maternal Age; Neonatal Mortality > determinants; Fertility; Fertility Measurements; Population Characteristics; Population; Demographic Factors; Northern Europe; Birth Order; Family Relationships; Europe; Mortality; United Kingdom; First Birth Intervals; Diseases; Family Characteristics; Developed Countries; Pregnancy History; Historical Survey; Tetanus; Family And Household; Population Dynamics
• ISSN: 0021-9320
• DOI: 10.1017/S002193200002109X

Neonatal death (mainly due to tetanus) was common in St Kilda until 1891. Two aspects of this phenomenon are studied; factors which predicted death, and the impact of neonatal death on family building. Maternal age appeared to be a predictive factor for death of the first child, but only in children of high birth order were other factors, particularly the number of previous neonatal deaths, important. The first birth interval appeared to be determined mainly by the date of the first birth, independent of neonatal mortality levels. For later intervals, the neonatal death of the previous child appeared to be the main determining factor.