Growth patterns among seminomadic pastoralists (Datoga) of Tanzania

Anthropometric measurements made on 470 individual children (age 0-18 years ) from a seminomadic population of Datoga pastoralists living in northern T anzania were used to describe patterns of child growth. Comparisons with re ference growth curves derived from American samples suggest that pastoral D atoga children grow poorly in this region. Body compositional changes with age differed markedly from the reference population. There were negligible fat gains through childhood, even among females. Comparison with data on ot her East African pastoralists showed that population growth performance is intermediate between that of nomadic and settled pastoralists. Little catch -up growth occurs during childhood, and adolescence appears to be delayed a mong males. The results contribute to the growing database on health indica tors for African pastoralists and suggest a need for further research to in vestigate mechanisms for growth stunting in these populations. (C) 1999 Wil ey-Liss, Inc.