[Incidence of lunar position in the distribution of deliveries. A statistical analysis]

Abstract

Objective: To point out the influence of the lunar position on the distribution of deliveries.

Methods: We examined all the full-term spontaneous deliveries that occurred at the Civil Hospital in Fano (March) throughout 24 synodic months in a 2-year period (1993-1994). In order to perform the statistical analysis, each delivery was considered as a single measure. We used techniques of circular statistics to execute data analysis.

Results: A significant relationship between lunar position and distribution of deliveries was pointed out in multigravidae (in detail, the deliveries resulted clustered around the full moon phase). On the contrary, no significant relation was observed in primigravidae.

Conclusions: The observed results evidence a significant influence of the position of the moon on the distribution of deliveries, especially in multigravidae.