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Cited by 55Indigenous Health and EducationFood, Nutrition, and Cultural PracticesChild Nutrition and Water Access

Nutritional success in a semi-arid land: examination of Tswana agro-pastoralists of the eastern Kalahari, Botswana

Grivetti, L E·1978·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.1093/ajcn/31.7.1204
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Abstract

The cultural and environmental factors affecting the food quest and nutritional status of the Moshaweng Tlokwa, a Tswana agro-pastoral society occupying the semi-arid eastern Kalahari Desert of Botswana, are examined. Data are presented on methods of food procurement, storage, preparation, and preservation. Tlokwa diet is based on agriculture horticulture and animal husbandry but a surprising number of wild species are regularly used as food. This pattern is nutritionally protective and viewed by the author as a principal reason for Tlokwa dietary success in their semi-arid environment. Data are presented on food habits, dietary prohibitions, and characteristic diets of infants, children, adolescents, and adults. Many Tlokwa foods are encouraged or prohibited on the basis of the consumers age, sex, and social development. Such patterns reduce competition for dietary resources, assure a more equitable distribution of food, and sustain the nutritional quality of diet. During 1973 to 1975 the Tlokwa appeared healthy and well fed; heavy rain-fall had just broken a 7-year drought. Kwashiorkormarasmus, avitaminosis, or other classical signs of malnutrition were not observed. A trend towards bottle feeding was noted. Children and adolescents are rapidly losing their ability to identify edible wild food resources. The author concludes that the Tlokwa heretofore have coped satisfactorily with drought in their semi-arid territory and recommends continued diversification of their food quest. Diversity is viewed as essential if the Tlokwa are to maintain their nutritional well-being in coming decades.

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Crossref · 10.1093/ajcn/31.7.1204

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  • Bantu agropastoralists have diets mainly composed of sorghum, maize, millet, legumes, cucurbits (squash and melons), eggs, and seasonally available fruits in addition to goat, chicken, fish, and cattle meat.

    “Bantu agropastoralists have diets mainly composed of sorghum, maize, millet, legumes, cucurbits (squash and melons), eggs, and seasonally available fruits in addition to goat, chicken, fish, and cattle meat [81].”

    From Population structure of human gut bacteria in a diverse cohort from rural Tanzania and Botswana (2019) · cites this paper as [81]

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Authors
Grivetti, L. E.
Corresponding author
Grivetti, L E
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1978-07
Volume
31
Issue
7
Pages
1204-1220
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/31.7.1204
OpenAlex
W1863872876
Cited by
55
References
16
Citations by year
2021: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
12.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Indigenous Health and Education
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food, Nutrition, and Cultural Practices
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Child Nutrition and Water Access
Keywords
nutritional status, semi-arid environments, wild edible plants, dietary diversity, food prohibitions, bottle feeding, drought adaptation, food security
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Agriculture, Botswana, Child, Child, Preschool, Cooking, Desert Climate, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Female, Food Preservation, Food Supply, Humans, Infant, Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

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