Hostname: page-component-54dcc4c588-sq2k7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-02T07:33:56.074Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Attitude of Ntomba society towards the primiparous woman and its biological effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Helene Pagezy
Helene Pagezy
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biological Anthropology, University of Paris
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

In the Ntomba of Zaire, observation on weaning patterns shows that the young primipara receives special attention in terms of nutrition and expected activities. Anthropometric examination shows that there is a pronounced effect on physique, the resulting accumulation of fat providing a buffer against seasonal variation in food availability, and allowing her to meet the high energy cost of nursing. The biological effects of these cultural practices suggest that they should be regarded as adaptive.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , October 1983 , pp. 421 - 431
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Elshout, P. (1963) Les Batwa des Ekonda, p. 65. Archives of Ethnography, Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.Google Scholar
Hiernaux, J. (1982) Man in the Heat: High Altitude and Society, Chap. 1. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois.Google Scholar
Hiernaux, J., Vincke, E. & Commelin, D. (1976) Les Oto et les Twa des Konda (Zone de l'Equateur, Zaire). Anthropologie, Paris, 80, 449.Google Scholar
Pagezy, H. (1978) Morphological, physical and ethoecological adaptations of Oto and Twa women living in the equatorial forest (Tumba Lake, Zaire). J. hum. Evol. 7, 683.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pagezy, H. (1982) Seasonal hunger, as experienced by the Oto and the Twa of a Ntomba village in the equatorial forest (Lake Tumba, Zaire). Ecol. Food Nutr. 12, 139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tanner, J.M., Hiernaux, J. & Jarman, S. (1969) Growth and physique studies. In: Human Biology: a Guide to Field Methods. IBP Handbook No. 9. Edited by Weiner, J.S. and Lourie, J.A.. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.Google Scholar
Van Everbroeck, N. (1961) Mbomb'Ipoku, le Seigneur a l'abime. No. 3, Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.Google Scholar
Van Everbroeck, N. (1974) Ekond'eMputela, Histoire, Croyances, Organisation Clanique, Politique, Sociale et Familiale des Ekonda et de leur Batoa. No. 21, Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.Google Scholar