Abstract
The health of the American Indian is a matter of increasing concern. The availability of extensive lineage records, the preservation of traditional cultural factors and the relative absence of miscegenation characterize the Papago tribe of southwestern Arizona. A complete cohort of 134 full-bloodd Papago children born between July 1965 and December 1967 and living on reservation were studied with their families. In addition over 900 school children from all parts of the reservation were examined.
The survival of the Papago is dependent upon cultural patterns adaptive in the arid environment of the Southwest. However, this culture carries with it other, less desirable, consequences including (1) a high frequency of several congenital malfromations (myelodysplasia and microphthalamia) due to endogamous marriage practices, (2) high mortality and morbidity from infectious disease, (3) normal perinatal development followed by growth retardation, and (4) the early onset of obesity and a high frequency of diabetes mellitus.
This study has suggested modifications of the health care system more compatiable with the cultural setting which will lessen the adverse impact of these adaptations on Papago children.
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Adams, M., Niswander, J. & Townes, P. Health of the American Indian: Papago Children. Pediatr Res 4, 474 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197009000-00158
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197009000-00158