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The authors analyze the causes and consequences of internal and international migration in Upper Volta from the colonial period to the present. The effects on migration of taxes, military recruitment, forced labor, and the creation of a monetary system are discussed. In the second part of the paper, data from 1974-1975 national migration survey are used to examine migratory movements during the period 1969-1973. Hypotheses that could account for these migration patterns are suggested (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Comments are presented on a paper by L Genicot concerning the large cities of the West in the year 1300. The present article focuses on the population of Belgian cities and includes a discussion of the methodology used.

This paper aims at showing that the differences presently observed throughout the world between live birth sex ratios have existed, at least in part, in Western Europe too. The study of chronological series for Western countries with a relatively long registration has enabled the disclosure of significant evolutions over time. The increase of values slightly higher than 104 boys for 100 girls to values nearer to 106 has been observed in several countries, in particular in Belgium. Also included is a brief synthesis of differential factors in order to try to simulate the impact of the evolution of demographic parameters on the variations of masculinity at birth. Demographic factors include stillbirths, age of parents, and birth order, among others. The necessity of a multidimensional approach is stressed. (author's modified)

After 1st stressing the complexity of explaining child mortality, a short overview of the various approaches to the problem is given. Included in the overview is research undertaken in different areas directly or indirectly concerned--particularly epidemiology and demography, but also in medical sciences, medical sociology, and anthropology. The purpose of this review is to point out the lack of coherence and shortcomings of research. Are they really explanatory or merely descriptive? Do they use the relevant techniques of observation and statistical analysis according to the objectives: Are they well integrated, without ambiguity, into the framework of a methodologically coherent thought? To many of these questions, the answer is often negative. To the partitioning of the different sciences concerning child mortality, this paper opposes the absolute necessity of a multidisciplinary approach, which should at the same time carry on the theoretical reflection on the cause of this complex phenomenon, and elaborate all research programs on the matter. (author's modified)

"This paper examines two methods of indirectly estimating mortality: the Bourgeois-Pichat method (estimation of life expectancy at birth), and the Bourbeau and Legare method.... This last method consists of estimating various past mortality measures, for a given population, by examining these same measures as they were observed in certain other populations, during the period in question." These methods are applied to Norwegian data for 1826-1976. The results are then compared with data observed during the same period. The findings are used to evaluate the two methods and assess their advantages and disadvantages. However, the emphasis is on the Bourbeau and Legare method. (summary in ENG, SPA)

"The purpose of this paper is to outline the various approaches to women's work adopted in social sciences, and to suggest that the one developed in demography for studying the interrelationship between work and fertility represents an important methodological contribution." The geographic focus is worldwide. In particular, the author notes the value of the longitudinal approach used in demography. (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

Despite a strong population increase in the first half of the XIXth century, the population of the Baronies of the Pyrenees ages continuously up to World War I. This paper examines the position of the elderly in this region, where the stem-family, although undergoing a crisis, still predominates. Demographic transition, the Civil Code of Law, then a vast rural depopulation transform successional and family cohabitation practices. An old man may lose his authority as head of the household but remains highly respected within the family. The elderly are well looked after by their descendants or closest relatives., Malgré une forte poussée démographique dans la première moitié du XIXe siècle, la population des Baronnies des Pyrénées n'a pas cessé de vieillir jusqu'à la première guerre mondiale. On a surtout cherché ici quelle était la place des vieux dans cette région où la famille-souche, pourtant en crise, reste perçue comme modèle dominant. La révolution démographique, le Code civil, puis l'exode rural massif ébranlent les usages successoraux et les coutumes de cohabitation au sein de la famille. S'il arrive au vieillard de perdre son autorité de chef de maison il n'en demeure pas moins très respecté. Vieilles et vieux sont bien entretenus par leurs descendants ou leurs plus proches parents., Chamoux Antoinette. Vieillesse et famille-souche. In: Annales de démographie historique, 1985. Vieillir autrefois. pp. 111-125.

"This article outlines a new system for computerized family reconstitution. It has been developed in the last ten years by a multidisciplinary team of Quebec researchers belonging to the inter-university research center on populations (SOREP). Basically, this system is characterized by: a) an attempt to computerize as much as possible every step involved in the process of reconstitution, b) a set of tools devised for identifying and measuring all forms and degrees of similarity between names and surnames, c) a technique to process cases of ambiguous links, d) a set of programs used to assess the quality of the data and the strength of the links created, [and] e) an attempt to maximize the performance of the linkage work in terms of both efficiency and accuracy. The system has been designed to support several kinds of analyses, from social history and demography to population genetics. Our paper contains a brief overview of the current state of research in the field of record linkage, an introduction to the Saguenay [Canada] population register and a description of the system itself which has been utilized successfully in the last year on the 660,000 Saguenay parish records, covering the period 1842-1971." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND ITA)

"This paper is structured around four propositions about population decline: (1) discussions about population decline have been plagued with confusion about the very meaning of the topic, as well as about causes, consequences and policy measures; (2) the issue is closely tied to political ideologies and cultural values; (3) demographic data and methods, and some prominent demographers, have played central roles in the debate; (4) the future of fertility is even murkier than usual, and therefore the legitimacy of concerns about population decline is not obvious." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

The very elderly in France. This paper is concerned with the evolution, geographical distribution, structure, ageing and mortality of the very elderly, defined as the 75-plus age group. Since the Second World War, this age group has rapidly increased. This population is predominantly female (60%), and made up of one-person households (60%); a small proportion live in retirement homes or nursing homes (9%). The number of older people within the very elderly population has grown substantially, essentially as a result of an increase in life expectancy. The mortality of the very elderly is characterised by major geographical inequalities which are an extension of those observed for the under 75 s., La communication traite des personnes très âgées définies comme celles ayant 75 ans et plus. Evolution, distribution géographique, structure, vieillissement et mortalité sont tour à tour analysés. L'augmentation de la population très âgée a été très rapide depuis la Deuxième Guerre mondiale. C'est une population largement féminine (à 66 %), dont les ménages n'ont souvent qu'une seule personne (60 °/o) et dont une petite partie vit dans des maisons de retraite et des établissements hospitaliers (9 %). La population très âgée connaît un remarquable processus de vieillissement lié essentiellement à l'augmentation de la longévité. Quant à la mortalité des personnes très âgées, elle est caractérisée par de fortes inégalités géographiques qui prolongent celles observées pour les personnes ayant moins de 75 ans., Noin Daniel. La population très âgée en France.. In: Espace, populations, sociétés, 1987-1. Personnes âgées et vieillissement - Elderly people and ageing - Londres, juillet 1986. pp. 29-40.

"This paper presents a statistical analysis of surnames, revealing a striking similarity between the Saguenay and Charlevoix regions in the province of Quebec, since the 19th century. Indeed, a migration study also shows that the former region was created in the 1840's by immigrants coming mostly from the latter. An analysis by decade also shows that the Saguenay population structure has remained relatively stable since the middle of the 19th century. It is suggested that this kind of surnames analysis may be a useful indicator not only of the dynamics of a population, but also of the evolution of the whole gene pool. It seems however to reflect very poorly the movement or diffusion of any deleterious gene in particular." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

"The goal of this paper is to review those explanatory models that dominate social demography in Quebec. The classical organization of demography, which calls upon the three components of demographic reproduction--fertility, migration and mortality--is followed. The concluding part of the paper deals with the concept of 'demographic regime', which aims to bring the three components together into an overall theory of demographic reproduction. The paper shows that if the functionalist and empirical tradition (mostly American) has dominated the field of demography for a very long time, feminist and materialistic approaches have recently appeared for the interpretation of demographic realities." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

"The purpose of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the New Home Economics and Easterlin theories of fertility, within a critical context. It is emphasized that in spite of similarities between the two theories, each makes distinct contributions: while one stresses the cost of children as a determinant of fertility, the other stresses the importance of material aspirations through the relative income concept." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

"Two questions are discussed in this paper: (1) what are, according to theory, the possible fields of intervention if one wants to act on the determinants of fertility? (2) according to those theories which seem to be validated by empirical analysis, what are the main determinants of the present fertility trend, on which it would be necessary to act in order to stop the decline and obtain an upward movement? The author concludes that, according to the present state of knowledge, a pronatalist policy is out of reach, except as a mere experimental exercise." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

This paper provides an overview of the principal findings of recent Inter-university Population Research Centre studies of the Northeast part of Quebec province (Canada), and particularly the Saguenay region. These studies may be classified as the social history of population, historical demography, and population genetics. The purpose of the research is to study the population dynamics at the regional level from the 18th to the 20th centuries, to examine the structure and evolution of the gene pool. Focus is place on several defective genes, which cause very severe diseases in those regions of Quebec. The authors illustrate how population studies as such can help genetic epidemiology and preventive actions in general as well as ethical and legal issues raised by an approach relying on the use of a population register.

Since Malthus, several commentators have noted quantitative considerations in Plato's work, regarding him as a forerunner of demographic thinking. But how to explain several demographic contradictions between the Laws and the Republic? This paper brings out the consistency of Plato's thought, which cannot be demonstrated at a purely demographic level. His fascination for mathematics and the influence of the Pythagorean school should 1st be taken into account. However, the City, as an ideal concept and as a concrete social organization is the key to Plato's thought. Confronted with a basic problem of political philosophy, that of [power and justice, Plato proposed to restore the harmony between the City as a political body and the individual citizens. Hence policy measures which we regard unduly as eugenic and demographic, are in fact based on a conception of man quite different from ours.

"This paper presents the first results of a comprehensive study devoted to the history of the population of the city and the region of Quebec, between 1795 and 1971. Data on origin, place of birth, religion and language have been used in order to analyse the degree of homogeneity of the population. In 1971, the Quebec region [contained] almost exclusively persons from French-Canadian origin, born in the province of Quebec, baptized in the catholic church, and speaking French. This image of [a] highly homogeneous population should however be retouched, particularly with regard to the genetical contribution of British and especially Irish immigrants." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

This paper shows how Western contact ment and displacement of workers, wars, and mis- sions) has marked each generation, Résumé Depuis le début du siècle les Iatmul sont passés d'une économie de subsistance à économie de marché. Ce changement lourd de psycho-sociales a profondément leurs représentations relatives à l'habitat. Cet article montre comment les diverses du contact avec les occidentaux de travailleurs, guerres, missions, ...) ont leurs marques sur chacune des générations., Coiffier Christian. Changements des représentations relatives à l'habitat chez les Iatmul de Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée. In: Journal de la Société des océanistes, 94, 1992-1. pp. 45-56.

"This brief paper identifies the most important moments and the most significant studies of Italian historiography on emigration. These range from the first formulation of economic and national models of the Italian exodus to their subsequent fragmentation into a mosaic of regional and local historical and anthropological studies. Ultimately, this will allow a much needed conceptual synthesis, aiming at new comparative research objectives, and a less specialized and sectorial analysis of emigration. Such an approach would also help us to tackle the migrational phenomena in contemporary society with a greater historical awareness and with more adequate cultural comprehension." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND ITA AND SPA)

Immunology gained legitimacy when it became the science of the immune system, a definition that announced the existence of a previously unknown body function. The very concept of immune system goes beyond the biological, offering opportunities for a renewed dialogue between biological science and the human sciences. This paper discusses the manifold viewpoints regarding the immune system.

This article provides an illustration of the combined contributions of social sciences and nursing in the development and application of knowledge. More specifically, the article presents a discussion of the respect ive contributions of the social sciences and nursing in the development of knowledge about the stress-coping paradigm. First, the significant role of the social sciences in initially developing the concepts of stress and coping if revealed through a review of different research perspectives considered to date, most notably in sociology and social psychology . After presenting some key markers in the development of nursing as a professional discipline, this paper illustrates how work developed through multidisciplinary efforts in the area of social sciences is pertinent to the development of theory, empirical research and the practice of nursing. The singular contribution of nursing to the development of knowledge in stress-coping is emphasized. The author concludes by noting that the discipline of nursing is somewhat similar to social sciences and sha res some common interests, notably with regard to phenomena such as reac tion to stress.

Tropical medicine's growing interest in social sciences has not remedied the neglect of some biological aspects related to human species polymorphism. These are adaptability to the environment and variability in time and space. Physical anthropology, when it is enlarged to include population genetics and the influence of the non-linear mode of thinking used in ecological sciences, may provide a good approach for solving problems related to development. Adaptability to a changing environment is partly cultural and partly biological. Medical standards used in developed countries may not be adequate in tropical regions. This paper reviews different areas in which human ecology can be useful to physicians, especially the study of the interactions between pathogens, human hosts, culture, and the physical environment.