Outcome of illegitimate conceptions in a black population.

PIP: Field interviews were conducted to gather data on pregnancy wastage and illegitimacy among 990 urban black women in a North Carolina Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. The sample range in age from 15-39, was at least gravida 1, and was at the poverty level (based on relationship of family size to income). 90% of births were illegitimate with little influence from economic status or income, but higher educational levels were associated with a greater percentage of conceptions resulting in illegitimate live births. The older the women, the lower was the proportion of illegitimate conceptions resulting in illegitimate births. In groups aged 15-24, and 30-39, there was a positive relationship between education and percentage of illegitimate live births, possibly due to general good health, awareness of health facilities for the more educated, and a reluctance to view abortion as acceptable. In this group aged 25-29, higher education was negatively related to illegitimate births, possibly explained by the relatively better health of this group, regardless of knowledge or availability of health care, and their tendency to view abortion as acceptable. Only 4% saw having children as a handicap to getting married. Only 9.7% of all conceptions which were terminated could have been via abortion, which is indicative of the corresponding attitudinal survey where 77% of the sample were opposed to abortion under any circumstances.^ieng

A nonmedical approach to fertility reduction. An experimental contraceptive service unit.

PIP: A preliminary report if given of results of 3 walk-up Contraceptive Service (CS) Units started in Forsyth County, North Carolina, by the Behavioral Science Center of Bowman Gray School of Medicine that tried through an experimental and nonmedical approach to reduce fertility among young poverty-level females by focusing on young sexually active males. 552 new and 874 returning clients visited the CS units during the first 7 months of the experiment. 90% new and 98% returning clients have been male. The first clinic was opened September 1, 1968, 3 hours each evening except Sunday. In November a second clinic was opened in March. Each was staffed by a nonmedical trained counselor. A choice of condoms, foam, or jelly and instruction in proper technics in using these methods provided at no cost. Male clients have been highly responsive, entering freely into discussion. Objections to mechanical methods were removed by instruction in proper use. Most requested condoms and foam. Location accounts different degrees of success and will be evaluated in a future report. CS effectiveness should be measured in lower venereal disease incidence. Further evaluation will include excess fertility analysis and numerator anaylsis.^ieng

Historical and theoretical perspectives: sex, love, and commitment revisited.

A sociology-of-knowledge perspective is used to examine the interplay among sex, love, and commitment within the context of historical trends and social changes. The implications of qualitative and quantitative differences among love, sex and commitment are discussed in relation to (1) the concept of "multiple selves," (2) "individual variations in threshold levels," and (3) the misuse of "ideal types." Clinical and research efforts to differentiate among sex, love, and commitment need to be balanced by explicit awareness of the tendency to compartmentalize these three areas.

Some marital-sexual concomitants of carcinoma of the cervix.

The responses of 50 cervical cancer patients to questions about marital and sexual adjustment are discussed. The subjects were predominantly poor, white women from rural areas or small towns. They had to travel 50 to 150 miles to a hospital where half were treated by radiotherapy and half by surgery. Their interview responses suggest five phases in attitudes and feelings from the time of the diagnosis until six months after treatment. Of 30 subjects who had a sex partner available and who completed the third of four interviews, 70% had either as much or more desire for coitus after treatment than before illness, and 57% had coitus either as frequently or more frequently after treatment than before illness.