A time to be born

Variation in the hour of birth in a rural population of Northern Argentina

Bibliographic Data

ID8315312
AuthorsCarlye Chaney (0000-0003-0733-6079, Department of Anthropology Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511, corresponding author), Teddy G Goetz (0000-0002-1138-6602, Medical Scientist Program College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University New York New York 10032), Claudia Valeggia (0000-0003-3589-6890, Department of Anthropology Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511)
Year2018
Volume166
Issue4
Pages975-978
Publication date2018-08-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.23483
PMID29665070
OpenAlexW2803068496
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited25

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed at investigating the timing of birth across the day in a rural population of indigenous and nonindigenous women in the province of Formosa, Argentina in order to explore the variation in patterns in a non-Western setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study utilized birth record data transcribed from delivery room records at a rural hospital in the province of Formosa, northern Argentina. The sample included data for Criollo, Wichí, and Toba/Qom women (n = 2421). Statistical analysis was conducted using directional statistics to identify a mean sample direction. Chi-square tests for homogeneity were also used to test for statistical significant differences between hours of the day. RESULTS: The mean sample direction was 81.04°, which equates to 5:24 AM when calculated as time on a 24-hr clock. Chi-squared analyses showed a statistically significant peak in births between 12:00 and 4:00 AM. Birth counts generally declined throughout the day until a statistically significant trough around 5:00 PM. DISCUSSION: This pattern may be associated with the circadian rhythms of hormone release, particularly melatonin, on a proximate level. At the ultimate level, giving birth in the early hours of the morning may have been selected to time births when the mother could benefit from the predator protection and support provided by her social group as well as increased mother-infant bonding from a more peaceful environment

Biology · Chi-square test · Geography · Morning · Population · Rural area · Statistics · Circadian rhythm and melatonin · Demography · Medicine · Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments · Sleep and related disorders

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub