Differential mortality in Turkana agriculturalists and pastoralists

Bibliographic Data

ID8317762
AuthorsJean Brainard, Jean M Brainard (The Ohio State University, corresponding author)
Year1986
Volume70
Issue4
Pages525-536
Publication date1986-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.1330700411
PMID3766717
OpenAlexW1971175930
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited17

Nomadic pastoral populations appear to have much lower rates of growth than the otherwise very high growth rates now characteristic of populations in developing nations. Because dramatic declines in infant mortality have been a primary contributor to increased population growth rates in these countries, it has been assumed that nomadic pastoral populations are still characterized by high levels of mortality in the first few years of life. Few studies, however, have been undertaken to estimate demographic parameters for nomadic pastoral populations, and even fewer of a comparative nature have been undertaken to document the impact of subsistence strategy on demographic processes. This study compares indirect childhood mortality estimates for Turkana nomadic pastoralists with childhood mortality in a settled agricultural group within the same population and finds that pastoralists have substantially higher levels of mortality. Based on the childhood mortality estimates, model life tables are selected for pastoral and agricultural groups from which values for mean life expectancy and infant mortality are estimated and compared. Recent improvements in primary health care for the settled agricultural group are ruled out as being an important cause of their lower mortality levels, and some aspects of life‐style associated with subsistence strategy are discussed as likely determinants of the mortality differences

Differential (mechanical device) · Geography · Livestock · Pastoralism · Engineering · Forestry · Health and Conflict Studies

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