John A. Hostetler

Fertility patterns and trends among the Old Order Amish.

Summary Using statistics from an Amish census, a survey of couples, and a family genealogy, we examine trends in Old Order Amish fertility during this century. We also examine factors which might explain variations in fertility. We find that Amish fertility has remained high and that there is no evidence of a downward trend. Comparisons with Hutterite fertility show that while marital fertility rates are similar for young women, the rates for older Amish women are much lower than those for older Hutterite women. We find some limited evidence of fertility control among women of high parity and among non-farm wives, but most variation in individual fertility is due to physiological factors, some of which appear to be passed from one generation to the next. We find that the main form of population control among the Old Order Amish is apostasy, and that rates of apostasy have been rising. Finally, we examine the family backgrounds of the leavers.

A note on nursing practices in an American isolate with a high birth rate

Abstract An unusually short interval between successive births in a non-contracepting and breast-feeding population has been reported by Dr. Mindel C. Sheps (Pop. Studies, 19, 1). Nursing practices that might affect the interval between birth and pregnancy are reported here from systematic observations made in the field. Probable factors are: (1) a maternal diet high in calories and in protein; (2) although infants are nursed for many months, each nursing period is short in a busy and highly patterned community schedule; and (3) supplementary feeding is introduced at an early age.