Sedentarization and Child Health: A Case Study of the Nutritional Status of Children Under 5 Years Old in the Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.

IF 1.7 4区医学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Human Biology Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1002/ajhb.70154

Sarai M Keestra, Bereket Yohannes Kabalo, Ehsan Kharati Koopaei, Lucie Buffavand, Tsegaye Demissie Gemebo, Yalew Ayele, Edward G J Stevenson

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluates differences in the nutritional status of children under 5 years old among the Bodi (Mela) of southwest Ethiopia, in the context of a sedentarization program which involved resettlement of pastoralist families in government-designed villages (villagization sites).

Methods: Data were collected in 2013 from two settings: state-run villagization sites (Hana), where families were forcibly resettled 6-18 months earlier to farm and receive food aid, and comparison communities in cattle camps (Gura). Families with at least one child under 5 years old were recruited. Household characteristics, disease incidence, infant feeding practices, and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold, and head circumference) were recorded. Age-adjusted z-scores were calculated and compared between sites. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from Emory University, Wolaita Sodo University, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Region Health Bureau.

Results: A total of 106 children from 75 families participated (40 in Hana, 35 in Gura). Nearly one-third of the children were stunted (31.5%) or underweight (27.4%), while 7.6% were wasted. Anthropometric measurements did not differ significantly between the two sites; however, in a sex-stratified analysis, boys in the villagization site had higher weight-for-height but lower triceps skinfold-for-age than those in the comparison site. No significant difference in the proportion wasted was observed. Families in Hana were less likely to report their child having consumed animal milk in the past 24 h and more likely to report a case of diarrhea in the past month.

Conclusions: Approximately 1 year after sedentarization, there was no consistent pattern of change in nutritional status among children in resettled families compared to those in pastoralist families.

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居家与儿童健康：埃塞俄比亚下奥莫河谷5岁以下儿童营养状况个案研究

目的：本研究评估了埃塞俄比亚西南部博迪（梅拉）地区5岁以下儿童营养状况的差异，研究背景是一个定居项目，该项目涉及将牧民家庭重新安置在政府设计的村庄（村庄化地点）。方法：2013年从两种环境中收集数据：一种是国营村庄（Hana），那里的家庭在6-18个月前被强制安置到农场并接受粮食援助，另一种是牛营地（Gura）的比较社区。至少有一个5岁以下孩子的家庭被招募。记录了家庭特征、疾病发病率、婴儿喂养习惯和人体测量（体重、身高、上臂围、三头肌皮褶和头围）。计算并比较不同地点的年龄校正z分数。该研究获得了埃默里大学、Wolaita Sodo大学和南方国家、民族和人民地区卫生局的伦理批准。结果：共有来自75个家庭的106名儿童参加，其中哈纳40名，古拉35名。近三分之一的儿童发育不良（31.5%）或体重不足（27.4%），7.6%的儿童消瘦。两个地点的人体测量值没有显著差异；然而，在性别分层分析中，村庄地区的男孩比比较地区的男孩身高体重比更高，但三头肌皮肤褶比年龄低。未观察到浪费比例的显著差异。Hana的家庭报告其孩子在过去24小时内食用动物奶的可能性较小，而在过去一个月报告腹泻病例的可能性较大。结论：定居大约1年后，与游牧家庭相比，安置家庭儿童的营养状况没有一致的变化模式。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

American Journal of Human Biology 生物-生物学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

13.80%

发文量

124

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The American Journal of Human Biology is the Official Journal of the Human Biology Association. The American Journal of Human Biology is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed, internationally circulated journal that publishes reports of original research, theoretical articles and timely reviews, and brief communications in the interdisciplinary field of human biology. As the official journal of the Human Biology Association, the Journal also publishes abstracts of research presented at its annual scientific meeting and book reviews relevant to the field. The Journal seeks scholarly manuscripts that address all aspects of human biology, health, and disease, particularly those that stress comparative, developmental, ecological, or evolutionary perspectives. The transdisciplinary areas covered in the Journal include, but are not limited to, epidemiology, genetic variation, population biology and demography, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, growth and aging, physical performance, physical activity and fitness, ecology, and evolution, along with their interactions. The Journal publishes basic, applied, and methodologically oriented research from all areas, including measurement, analytical techniques and strategies, and computer applications in human biology. Like many other biologically oriented disciplines, the field of human biology has undergone considerable growth and diversification in recent years, and the expansion of the aims and scope of the Journal is a reflection of this growth and membership diversification. The Journal is committed to prompt review, and priority publication is given to manuscripts with novel or timely findings, and to manuscripts of unusual interest.