Seasonal ecology and nutritional status of women and children in a Tanzanian pastoral community.

Anthropometric dimensions for 180 women and 347 individual children (0-18 years) from a seminomadic population of Datoga pastoralists living in the Eyasi and Yaeda basins of northern Tanzania are used to assess the nutritional status of the population and the magnitude and prevalence of changes between late wet season and late dry season sampling periods (1989-1991). Results reveal high prevalence of undernutrition among both women and children. Almost one-half of all women were chronically energy deficient (BMI < 18.5) and were estimated to have very low fat stores. Moderate seasonal decreases in fat stores were observed in longitudinal, and also inferred in cross-sectional, samples of the women. The decreases were more marked among lactating individuals. Almost one-half of all children showed evidence of growth retardation due to undernutrition. There was some limited evidence of decreased adiposity among children in the dry period relative to the wet period. Although drier ecological conditions are associated with decreased fat stores among both women and children, the change is of small magnitude. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:758-781, 2000. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.