Caldwell, J. C., & Caldwell, P. (1977). The role of marital sexual abstinence in determining fertility: A study of the Yoruba in Nigeria. Population Studies, 31(2), 193-217. https://doi.org/10.2307/2173915
Caldwell JC, Caldwell P. The role of marital sexual abstinence in determining fertility: A study of the Yoruba in Nigeria. Popul Stud (Camb). 1977;31(2):193-217. doi:10.2307/2173915
Caldwell, J. C., and Pat Caldwell. "The role of marital sexual abstinence in determining fertility: A study of the Yoruba in Nigeria." Population studies, vol. 31, no. 2, 1977, pp. 193-217.
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Abstract
Summary
Although sexual abstinence has probably been the single most important factor in restricting human fertility, Western researchers have tended to regard it as a phenomenon mostly found outside marriage. The research reported here was carried out amongst the Yoruba, a sub Saharan people, among whom it is more desirable in terms of social stability to practise female sexual abstinence mainly within marriage, rather than outside it. A similar situation is found widely in tropical Africa. Data are reported from five surveys carried out in 1973-75 in the Changing African Family and Nigerian Family Projects. Three types of marital abstinence are shown to have an effect in reducing fertility: post-natal abstinence (often wrongly described as a 'taboo'), terminal abstinence, and abstinence at other times. Female sexual abstinence is not paralleled by an equal practice of male abstinence, and the main reason for abstinence is to preserve long birth intervals and periods of lactation in a society prone to high rates of infant malnutrition and mortality. It is shown that the Index of Proportions Married (I ( m )) is only one of a number of fertility-weighted indices which can be employed to sub-divide the female reproductive span, and that a complete series of indices adding to unity can be constructed. The duration of lactation and abstinence are found to be related but, because abstinence is traditionally of longer duration, lactation amenorrhoea is of little importance in containing fertility. Married women spend less than half their reproductive lives in periods when sexual relations are possible and marital abstinence is between three and four times more important than delayed marriage in restricting fertility. The period of abstinence is shown to be changing and it is probable that it has never been of an agreed length; the concept of 'natural fertility' is examined in this light. The partial substitution of contraception for the abstinence period is analysed, and the possible effect on fertility considered.
The use-effectiveness of natural methods of family planning in lactation is evaluated by comparing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies in a group of nursing mothers practising these methods with the incidences reported previously in surveys of breastfeeding women using no contraception. The complexity of the physiological processes involved in the resumption of ovulation after term pregnancy is discussed in relation to NFP and the problems encountered by its users in the context of normal family life. The serum prolactin and gonadotrophin levels are correlated with the postpartum interval and nursing status of the participants and discussed in relation to NFP after childbirth.
Ramos R et al., 1996·BMJ·Free full text on PubMed Central
To determine the contraceptive efficacy of the lactational amenorrhoea method. Non-comparative prospective trial. Urban Manila, the Philippines. 485 lower income, educated women with extensive experience of breast feeding. Women were offered all available contraceptives for use after birth. Those who chose the lactational amenorrhoea method were taught the method, screened for the study, and followed for 12 months to determine the risk of pregnancy when the method was used. Life table pregnancy rates during correct and incorrect use of the method, censored monthly in the event of sexual abstinence or the use of another contraceptive method. The lactational amenorrhoea method was 99% effective when used correctly (that is, during lactational amenorrhoea and full or nearly full breast feeding for up to six months). At 12 months the effectiveness during amenorrhoea dropped to 97%. The lactational amenorrhoea method provided as much protection from pregnancy as non-breast feeding women experience with non-medicated intrauterine devices and barrier methods. The contraceptive effect of lactation cannot be attributed to lactational or postpartum abstinence.
Fehring RJ et al., 2021·Linacre Q·Free full text on PubMed Central
Marital chastity is the practice of periodic abstinence with use of natural family planning (NFP). The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the most common methods of contraception (female sterilization, oral contraceptive pills, and condoms) and NFP on divorce/separation and cohabitation rates among reproductive age women. The study involved an extensive review of the literature on the effects of practice of NFP on marital dynamics and a statistical analysis of 2,550 ever-married women in the (2015-2017) National Survey of Family Growth data set. Importance of religion and frequency of church attendance were included in the analysis. With ever-use of NFP, 14 percent were divorced or separated, and 27 percent to 39 percent were divorced or separated with ever-use of oral contraceptive pills. Stepwise logistic regression indicated that ever-use of contraception was associated with increased odds of divorce or separation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05; confidence interval [CI]: 1.96-2.49) and cohabitation (2.95, CI: 2.20-3.95). Ever-use of NFP yielded 58 percent lower odds for divorce or separation. Frequent church attendance was associated with lower odds of divorce or separation and cohabitation. Although there are lower odds of divorce among NFP users, the reason might be due to their religiosity.
This study showed that ever-use of natural family planning (NFP) among ever-married women was associated with 58 percent lower odds of divorce than among women who never-used NFP. Ever-use of contraceptive methods was associated with two times the odds of divorce and four times for cohabitation compared to those women who never-used those methods. Use of periodic abstinence with NFP is the practice of marital chastity and is thought to strengthen the marital relationship.
Postpartum › Return of Fertility › Breastfeeding and Ovulation
PMID 22077838 22077838 DOI 10.2307/2173915 10.2307/2173915 Caldwell et al. 1977, Caldwell 1977
Cite this article
Caldwell, J. C., & Caldwell, P. (1977). The role of marital sexual abstinence in determining fertility: A study of the Yoruba in Nigeria. Population Studies, 31(2), 193-217. https://doi.org/10.2307/2173915
Caldwell JC, Caldwell P. The role of marital sexual abstinence in determining fertility: A study of the Yoruba in Nigeria. Popul Stud (Camb). 1977;31(2):193-217. doi:10.2307/2173915
Caldwell, J. C., and Pat Caldwell. "The role of marital sexual abstinence in determining fertility: A study of the Yoruba in Nigeria." Population studies, vol. 31, no. 2, 1977, pp. 193-217.