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Polygamy: a cultural trait and maternal and child health
Author(s) -
George Theresa
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2648.1981.tb03215.x
Subject(s) - trait , psychology , acculturation , child health , social psychology , developmental psychology , ecology , geography , immigration , medicine , biology , pediatrics , archaeology , computer science , programming language
This study indicates that it is probable that the cultural trait of polygamy was instituted as an adaptive measure in a particular ecology within a particular tribal group. Polygamy perpetuated because of its positive contribution to maternal and child health. The study further indicates that it is also probable that monogamy as a foreign cultural trait and its introduction without concomitant changes in other spheres of the ecosystem (biophysical and social environment) must have produced a negative effect on maternal and child health. The particular ecosystem is described and its effects on maternal and child health are pointed out.