Monthly Pattern and Distribution of Births in a Teaching Institution of Northern India

Abstract

Background: Seasonality in frequency of birth is a world-wide phenomenon that reflect behavioral and biological determinant of reproduction. Aim: To assess pattern of birth occurring in a medical college hospital according to calendar months. Materials and Methods: Log books of delivery room were retrieved and all singleton live births occurring in each month for the calendar years 2002-2009 (8-year) was extracted. Data collection was carried out by the investigators during the period February-April 2010 and data management using software statistical package. Analysis was carried out by calculating average birth per month for the period under study and standard index as well as quarter-wise details was also tabulated. Result: It was observed that there was a progressive rise in total number of births occurring in the hospital from 5840 (avg. 486.66/month) from the year 2002 to 8205 (avg. 683.75/month) in 2009. Maximum birth occurred during the months of August (avg. 774/month) followed by September (avg. 735/month) and October (avg. 705/month) respectively and least in the month of April (avg. 445/month) with a P<0.05. Quarter (q) wise distribution showed maximum birth during q3 (July-September=30%) followed by q4 (October- December=27%), q2 (April-June=22%) and q1 (January-March=21%) respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that peak birth in the months of August-September-October as observed in present study implying that there is increased conception during the winter months of December-January-February. Within study limitations, findings may facilitate advocacy, counseling, planning and delivery of family welfare service in a more efficient and effective manner particularly related to mobilization of human resource, inventory control, logistics, streamlining family planning services at institutional and community level keeping in mind the monthly pattern of hospital deliveries. 
Keywords: Behavior, communication, conception, delivery, demography, family planning, fertility, human resource, months, pattern, reproduction, seasonality, time