Infertility in Herero pastoralists of southern Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID19461007
AuthorsRenee Pennington (0000-0002-6613-8438, Pennsylvania State University), Henry Harpending (Pennsylvania State University)
Year1991
Volume3
Issue2
Pages135-153
Publication date1991-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Human Biology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1042-0533 • E-ISSN: 1520-6300
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajhb.1310030209
PMID28520243
OpenAlexW2057249333
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited45

Transition from low to high rates of fertility among Herero pastoralists of the northern Kalahari of Botswana is examined. Total fertility rates have increased from 2.65 in the first half of this century to 7.02 in the last decade, while postreproductive women report having had only 3.47 births. We use an indirect estimator of the fertility of mothers to show that the Herero have been afflicted with abnormally low fertility since early in this century. Although the several possible causes of subfertility in this population, including disease, maternal health, and child care practices are examined, it is concluded that the effects of venereal diseases are most likely responsible for abnormally low fertility. The dramatic increase in fertility following treatment of a major cause of infertility underscores the potential impact diseases may have on human reproductive patterns. This study is the first to document subfertility in an ethnic group of southern Africa

Biology · Geography · Infertility · Livestock · Pastoralism · Pregnancy · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Animal Diversity and Health Studies · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Demography · Medicine · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology · Forestry · Genetics