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Epidemiological studies in a highland population of new guinea: Environment, culture, and health status

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Abstract

In assessing the impact of European influence on sociocultural characteristics of the Murapin tribal community of the Western Highlands of Australian New Guinea, the authors have gathered and, where possible, quantified information on family size, polygamy, marital status, religious beliefs, education, linguistic ability, economic development, occupation, housing, clothing, alcohol intake, and dietary patterns. Our findings suggest that the results of contact have not been uniform but that various social characteristics have been influenced at differing rates. European influence has been greatest in religion, less significant in matters of occupation, education, economic development, and housing, and negligible as regards diet. This differential effect of contact affords hope that it will prove possible to discriminate between various social and nutritional factors in their influence on the health status and biological characteristics of the population as the process of acculturation proceeds.

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Author notes

  1. P. F. Sinnett (Senior Research Fellow, National Heart Foundation of Australia)

    Present address: Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Papua and New Guinea, Papua New Guinea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Science, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    P. F. Sinnett (Senior Research Fellow, National Heart Foundation of Australia)

  2. The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    H. M. Whyte (Professor of Clinical Science)

Authors
  1. P. F. Sinnett
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  2. H. M. Whyte
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This work was supported by the National Heart Foundation of Australia.

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Sinnett, P.F., Whyte, H.M. Epidemiological studies in a highland population of new guinea: Environment, culture, and health status. Hum Ecol 1, 245–277 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531185

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531185

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