Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Nomads”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and heart disease of nomadic and sedentary tribesmen consuming isoenergetic diets of high and low fat content.

1. The effects were examined of two approximately isoenergetic diets differing widely in saturated fat content on the levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides of nomads and non-nomads in eastern Niger. Each person was also examined for clinical and electrocardiographic evidence of heart disease. 2. No significant differences could be found between serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels of 297 Anagamba nomad men consuming 73% energy as fat and 303 Kanouri sedentary men consuming 9% energy as fat. 3. Rheumatic heart disease was common in nomads and four possible cases of ischaemic heart disease were found in sedentary men only.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A comparison of health complaints of settled and nomadic Turkana men.

This article examines the health complaints of settled and nomadic Ngisonyoka Turkana of northwest Kenya. Samples of 152 nomadic and 124 settled men, aged 14 and over, were surveyed about their health status. The general pattern of disease reported concurs with previous studies of health among Turkana; that is, the primary complaints are respiratory tract infections and eye infections. The settled Turkana reported more severe complaints and higher rates of infectious disease than the nomads, including a significantly higher frequency of cold with cough, eye infection, and chest infection. Although the settled males as a group had slightly higher body mass index and other measures of body fat than the nomadic group, none of these indicators of body composition were predictive of health complaints. Observed differences in health patterns are possibly related to differences in dietary composition, exposure to pathogens associated with population density and environmental pollution, physical activity patterns, and psychosocial stress.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Participatory mapping as a tool for public health decision-making in nomadic settings. A case study among Dazagada pastoralists of the Bahr-el-Ghazal region in Chad].

Integrating the strategies of the point of view of nomadic breeders of cattle into a geographic information system (GIS) highlights the complexity of the temporospatial context associated with point of view of nding health care seeking by nomadic pastoralists. The method used in this study was based on a combination of participatory mapping with group discussions and semi-structured interviews. The resulting data allowed georeferencing of the pastoral environment in the inner Lake Chad Basin according to the representation of Dazagada pastoralists of the Bahr-el-Ghazal region (Kanem, Tchad). By providing better insight into the day-to-day life of nomadic people determining their capacities to make use of primary health care, this holistic approach provides a tool to assist public health decision-makers in optimizing the use of health care facilities by nomadic communities.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2004

[Health care centre attendance by Arab nomadic pastoralists. A case study in Kanem, Chad].

Attendence at a rural health centre in a nomadic setting was monitored over several months to gain insight into factors determining accessibility to permanent primary health facilities by nomadic people. Multiple interactions between favorable and unfavorable factors for health care seeking in a nomadic setting were identified for a health care center particularly appreciated by pastoral nomads.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Health care services for nomadic people. Lessons learned from research and implementation activities in Chad].

To overcome barriers of access to health care of nomadic people and to alleviate inequities in health, a transdisciplinary team has initiated research and intervention activities among three nomadic groups of Chad: Foulbé, Arabes and Gouranes. A regular and consistent communication among all actors involved (nomadic groups, researchers, planners and administrators of health and veterinary services, etc.) through repetitive meetings and workshops showed to be a crucial element for success. Differences between ethnic nomadic groups made it necessary to develop specific communication strategies adapted to each group. As to interventions to improve the vaccination coverage, mixed teams combining health and veterinary specialists were able to vaccinate an important number of children and women and showed to have a high potential in terms of organisational and logistic feasibility, acceptability as well as good cost-effectiveness. With regard to improving access to health care, Information--Education and Communication approaches adapted to the intervention context and linked to the provision of essential services and generic drugs showed to be crucial.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The distribution of ringworm infections amongst Nigerian nomadic Fulani herdsmen.

There are very few medical reports on the nomadic peoples of the world. In Nigeria such reports are non-existent. The present work has looked at the distribution of ringworm infections among the Nigerian nomadic Fulani herdsmen. An examination of their infected herds of cattle revealed similarities in the species of dermatophytes isolated from the herdsmen and those isolated from their cattle. Some of the leaves of the plants that lined the cattle tracks normally used by both the herdsmen and their cattle yielded some of the species of dermatophytes isolated from the herdsmen and their cattle. The possible origins of the dermatophytes that caused the ringworm infections amongst the nomads are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Epidemiological study of parasitic infections in Somali nomads.

In Somali nomads the incidence of intestinal helminths is very low compared with that observed in Somalian closed institutions and practically no Entamoeba infection occurs. Schistosoma haematobium eggs are observed in urine of 50% of adults nomads. Immunological tests reveal that the relative prevalences of leishmaniasis (the lowest), malaria, and toxoplasmosis (the highest) in nomads are similar to those shown by the same techniques in settled communities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Morbidity patterns in three nomadic communities in Chari-Baguirmi and Kanem, Chad].

Within the framework of an multidisciplinary research and action program, morbidity patterns were assessed in three nomadic communities, i.e., Fulani, Arab cattle breeders and Arab camel breeders, living in Chari-Baguirmi and Kanem, Chad. This is the first data about the health of Chadian nomadic pastoralists who account for approximately 6% of the total population. A total of 1092 women, men and children were interviewed and examined in the course of three surveys carried out by a physician during the dry and rainy season. Nomads reporting no health problems were rare. Tuberculosis was suspected in 4.6% of adults after clinical examination and bronchopulmonary disorders in children less than five years of age. Febrile diarrhea was more prevalent during the wet season when access to clean drinking water was more difficult. Simple malaria was rarely diagnosed in Arabs during the dry season. In contrast simple malaria was frequent in Fulani who stay in the vicinity of Lake Chad during the dry period. Protein-energy malnutrition was observed in only 3 of 328 children younger than 15 years of age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Mitochondrial DNA of ancient Cumanians: culturally Asian steppe nomadic immigrants with substantially more western Eurasian mitochondrial DNA lineages.

The Cumanians were originally Asian pastoral nomads who in the 13th century migrated to Hungary. We have examined mitochondrial DNA from members of the earliest Cumanian population in Hungary from two archeologically well-documented excavations and from 74 modern Hungarians from different rural locations in Hungary. Haplogroups were defined based on HVS I sequences and examinations of haplogroup-associated polymorphic sites of the protein coding region and of HVS II. To exclude contamination, some ancient DNA samples were cloned. A database was created from previously published mtDNA HVS I sequences (representing 2,615 individuals from different Asian and European populations) and 74 modem Hungarian sequences from the present study. This database was used to determine the relationships between the ancient Cumanians, modern Hungarians, and Eurasian populations and to estimate the genetic distances between these populations. We attempted to deduce the genetic trace of the migration of Cumanians. This study is the first ancient DNA characterization of an eastern pastoral nomad population that migrated into Europe. The results indicate that, while still possessing a Central Asian steppe culture, the Cumanians received a large admixture of maternal genes from more westerly populations before arriving in Hungary. A similar dilution of genetic, but not cultural, factors may have accompanied the settlement of other Asian nomads in Europe.

Asian People↗
PubMed1990

Enterotoxigenicity of staphylococci isolated from raw milk obtained from settled and nomadic herds around Zaria, Nigeria.

Staphylococcal isolates from 135 raw milk samples obtained from settled herds (42) and nomadic herds (93), were characterized and assayed for enterotoxin production. Of the 42 samples from settled herds, 13 (31%) were California Mastitis Test (CMT)-positive, but all the samples contained staphylococci. Only 3 (3.2%) of the 93 raw milk samples from nomadic herds were CMT-positive but 58 (62.4%) contained staphylococci. Of the 13 isolates from CMT-positive milk obtained from settled herds, one produced enterotoxin A, while amongst the 29 from CMT-positive milk, 4 elaborated enterotoxin A and 3 produced type D. None of the isolates from milk obtained from nomadic herds was enterotoxigenic.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of effects of breast-feeding practices on birth-spacing in three societies: nomadic Turkana, Gainj, and Quechua.

Variation in the duration and pattern of breast-feeding contributes significantly to inter-population differences in fertility. In this paper, measures of suckling frequency and intensity are used to compare the effects of breast-feeding practices on the duration of lactational amenorrhoea, and on the length of the birth interval in three prospective studies undertaken during the 1980s, among Quechua Indians of Peru, Turkana nomads of Kenya, and Gainj of Papua New Guinea. In all three societies, lactation is prolonged well into the second year postpartum, and frequent, on-demand breast-feeding is the norm. However, the duration of lactational amenorrhoea and the length of birth intervals vary considerably. Breast-feeding patterns among Gainj and Turkana are similar, but Turkana women resume menses some 3 months earlier than do the Gainj. The average birth interval among the Gainj exceeds that of nomadic Turkana by over 15 months. Suckling activity decreases significantly with increasing age of nurslings among both Gainj and Quechua, but not among Turkana. Earlier resumption of menses among Turkana women may be linked to the unpredictable demands of the pastoral system, which increase day-to-day variation in the number of periods of on-demand breast-feeding, although not in suckling patterns. This effect is independent of the age of infants. The short birth intervals of Turkana women, relative to those of the Gainj, may be related to early supplementation of Turkana nurslings with butterfat and animals' milk, which reduces energetic demands on lactating women at risk of negative energy balance.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Health care for nomads too, please.

Pastoral nomadism, a way of life in many developing countries, especially in Africa, has received little attention from planners, economists and governments, partly because the communities in question present what are perceived as difficult logistical problems. Yet it is incumbent on the authorities to develop practical and feasible approaches to the delivery of primary health care for nomadic populations.

Africa↗
PubMed1992

Measles in a west African nomadic community.

A serological survey was conducted among Tuareg nomads to determine their level of immunity to measles. More than half (57.9%) of the children under 10 years of age did not have detectable antibodies to measles, suggesting that transmission of the disease is low in this mobile population. Mothers' reports of their children's history of measles were accurate (positive predictive value 93.9% for under-5-year-olds). Nomads are a reservoir of susceptible individuals who require immunization strategies adapted to their particular life-styles. These can be implemented at relatively low cost.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Pregnancy outcome for nomadic Turkana pastoralists of Kenya.

The outcome of an individual pregnancy is a key component of overall reproductive success and is strongly influenced by environmental, behavioral, and biological variation within populations. This prospective study examined the outcomes of 68 pregnancies among nomadic Turkana of Kenya from July 1993 to July 1994. A total of 12 women experienced pregnancy losses, and 3 women experienced live births with a subsequent perinatal death. The following characteristics are associated with increased risk for experiencing a fetal or perinatal death: severe morbidity episodes, shorter nonpregnant intervals, lower third-trimester weight, higher third-trimester summed skinfolds but limited third-trimester reduction in summed skinfolds, and higher activity levels late in gestation. Turkana newborns measured within 48 hr of birth (n = 19) weighed an average of 2,860 +/- 640 g and had a mean ponderal index of 2.72 +/- 0.46. Variation in birth weight was predicted by preterm delivery, delivery during the wet season, and maternal morbidity levels. Birth length averaged 50.8 +/- 6.8 cm and was positively influenced by full term delivery, better maternal health, and birth during the dry season. These results suggest complicated pathways linking the physical environment, subsistence requirements, heterogeneity in maternal fitness, behavior, and pregnancy outcome. The results augment the larger picture of reproductive success for Turkana nomads who live in a highly variable savanna environment.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2000

Child nutrition in the transition from nomadic pastoralism to settled lifestyles: individual, household, and community-level factors.

The research reported here examines child nutrition in a population that is currently experiencing a transition in subsistence, shifting from nomadic pastoralism to a variety of settled lifestyles. We investigate the range of nutritional consequences of settlement both within and between communities by examining individual, household, and community-level predictors of child nutritional status. Data are drawn from the Rendille Demographic and Health Survey, which contains anthropometric data from 1,088 children ages 6 months to 10 years, as well as socioeconomic data from 640 households drawn from one nomadic and four economically and ecologically diverse settled communities. Comparisons allow us to test the widely held assumption that settlement results in nutritional improvements. The examination of individual and household-level factors highlights several important influences on child nutrition. We find a complex interaction between gender and birthorder, whereby firstborn sons have significantly higher weight-for-height scores than other children, potentially reflecting preference under a system of primogeniture. We also find a complex interaction between defacto female-headed households, where males are absent for over half of the year, and economic status. Young children from poor female-headed households have significantly lower weight-for-height than other children, possibly due to the fact that these households are amongst the poorest in the entire community. However, young children from economically sufficient female-headed households actually fare better than their counterparts in male headed households, suggesting that in households with any discretionary resources, female heads prioritize food acquisition relative to other concerns. Finally, our comparison of child nutritional status across communities, while controlling for individual and household-level variation, does not support the contention that settlement is associated with nutritional improvements. Rather, the effect of community, and its associated changes in subsistence and lifestyle, results in either no nutritional changes, or in the case of young children in the lowland desert community of Korr, diminished nutritional status. Our results underscore the importance of considering variation in sample composition and socioeconomic status when performing community comparisons, and highlight the central role of women in influencing the nutritional welfare of their families.

Child↗
PubMed1982

Beja and Nilotes: nomadic pastoralist groups in the Sudan with opposite distributions of the adult lactase phenotypes.

Lactose tolerance tests with breath hydrogen determination were performed on 585 apparently healthy adolescents and adults in the Democratic Republic of the Sudan. Out of the total, 303 probands belong to the tribal group Beja, traditional nomadic pastoralists in the desert zone between the Nile and the Red Sea. The 282 Nilotes (mainly Dinka) are members of seminomadic cattle breeding tribes in the south of the Sudan. In both populations milk consumption is substantial but only in the Beja true milk dependence, sufficient to result in selective pressures in favour of the lactase persistence allele, is likely to exist. The proportion of lactose malabsorbers was 16.8% in the Beja and 74.5% in the Nilotes. The high prevalence of lactose malabsorption among the Nilotes fits into a converging gradient of lactase gene frequencies along the Nile Valley. The Beja are the first nomadic desert population in North Africa in whom a high prevalence of lactase persistence has been demonstrated on a numerically sufficient sample.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Kala-azar in western Upper Nile province in the southern Sudan and its spread to a nomadic tribe from the north.

Since the start in 1988 of the present epidemic of kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) in western Upper Nile state in southern Sudan, the epidemiology of the disease in all parts of the Sudan where kala-azar has been reported was reassessed by the Leishmaniasis Research Group in Khartoum. In this paper, the spread of the epidemic is described among a nomadic tribe originating from southern Kordofan state, who migrate every year with their cattle to the Bentiu area in western Upper Nile state where the epidemic is still raging. 200 cases from this tribe were seen in Khartoum; another 56 cases were found during a field trip to the area. In addition, the Bentiu area was visited, where 301 cases were under treatment and another 52 of 1120 individuals screened were confirmed parasitologically. 20 cases of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis were found. Parasites isolated from the nomadic tribe were of the same zymodeme as parasites isolated previously from the Nuer in western Upper Nile. The epidemiological findings in each state are discussed in relation to the tribes that were affected and the ecology of the area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Modelling the many-wrongs principle: the navigational advantages of aggregation in nomadic foragers.

We develop a simple individual-based model to gain an understanding of the drivers of aggregation behaviour in nomadic foragers. The model incorporates two key elements influencing nomadic foragers in variable environments: uncertainty regarding the location of food sources and variability in the spatio-temporal distribution of ephemeral food sources. A genetic algorithm is used to evolve parameters describing an individual's movement and aggregation strategy. We apply the aggregation model to a case study of the Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus). Bearded pigs are ideal for considering the foraging advantages of aggregation, because they are highly mobile and exhibit a variety of aggregation strategies, ranging from solitary and sedentary to mass aggregation and wide ranging migration. Our model demonstrates the "many-wrongs principle", and shows that environmental variability, uncertainty in the location of food sources, and local population density drive aggregation behaviour.

Animals↗