The influence of illegitimate births on fertility trends throughout history
Horska, P.
Demografie 22(4): 343-350
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0011-8265 PMID: 12311697 Document Number: 467155
The author calls attention to the significance of the illigitimate birth rate both during the prestatistical period and the 19th century as well as at the beginning of the 20th century. In Austria-Hungary, the rate of illegitimate births was high as compared with most other European countries. It was highest in the Alpian countries; however, the Czechoslovakian countries occupied a 2nd place in the distribution of illegitimate births within the total number of births. Shortly after the first 1/2 of the 19th century, this share reached a maximal level within the total period since the 18th century. A number of illegitimate children had their births legitimized after their parents married. This was especially true in Bohemia where 40% of the illegitimate births were later legitimized. Consequently, the illegitimate fertility rate even influenced the trends in nuptiality in the second 1/2 of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. (author's)