Pregnancy wastage in two tribal communities (Gujars and Bazigars) of Punjab, India
Sidhu, S.
Anthropologischer Anzeiger; Bericht Uber die Biologisch-Anthropologische Literatur 52(2): 137-142
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-5548 PMID: 8067723 DOI: 10.2307/29540405Document Number: 286343
In the Punjab, India, interviews with 250 Gujar women during 1979- 1982 and 360 Bazigar women during 1983-1985 were conducted to determine pregnancy wastage and the risk of stillbirth with advancing age among women who do not use any family planning method. (The Gujars tend to be cattle breeders and pastoralists who also practice agriculture. The Bazigars tend to be wanderers but live near large villages and towns.) All the women were 20 years old or older. The Gujar women had 1672 pregnancies among them. The Bazigar women had 2306 pregnancies. The Gujar women suffered 235 fetal deaths (140.55/1000 pregnancies). The Bazigar women suffered 300 fetal deaths (130.09/1000 pregnancies). The spontaneous abortion rate was greater than the stillbirth rate in all age groups and in both tribes. It was lowest in the 25-29 year old age group (50.25/1000 pregnancies for Gujars and 50/pregnancies for Bazigars). The spontaneous abortion rate increased with age (= or 45 years old, 117.73 for Gujars and 104.6 for Bazigars). The risk of pregnancy wastage was lowest among 25-29 year olds (Gujars, 85.42 vs. 101.69-168.8 and Bazigars, 77.77 vs. 90.9-150.62). The risk increased with age, being the greatest among at least 45-year- old women (168.8 for Gujars and 150.62 for Bazigars). These findings suggest that 25-29 year olds are best suited biologically for reproduction.