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On Studying Fertility at High Altitude: A Rejoinder to Hoff
Author(s) -
GOLDSTEIN MELVYN C.,
BEALL CYNTHIA M.,
TSARONG PALJOR
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
american anthropologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1548-1433
pISSN - 0002-7294
DOI - 10.1525/aa.1984.86.2.02a00260
Subject(s) - fertility , population , library science , history , genealogy , sociology , demography , computer science
A rejoinder in an ongoing controversy between C.J. Hoff and the present authors concerning Hoffs study of fertility in the highland community of Nunoa Peru is presented. Hoff maintained that his Nunoan data supported the contention that although the Nunoa have a high fertility rate fertility is somewhat reduced by the effects of hypoxic depression experienced by the high altitude dwelling Nunoa and that the fertility rate is lower in the highland regions than in the lowland regions. The present authors contend that wide but equal variations in fertility are observed among both highland and lowland groups and they hypothesize that these variations are attributable to cultural factors which either increase of decrease exposure of the women to the risk of pregnancy. The present authors restate their argument that Hoff failed to provide evidence of the existence of a hypoxic depression effect. Although Hoff responded to the authors criticism of the size of his sample he failed to respond to their more basic criticism that his sample was not representative of the community. The sample of 31 Nunoa women was not a random sample. A pattern of marriage instability was observed but not assessed in reference to its possible impact on completed fertility rates. Hoffs methods did not consider the influence of confounding factors. Therefore he cannot claim that the reduction in fertility was due to the effect of hypoxic depression. Hoff cited other studies he claimed supported his hypothesis but failed to cite a Bolivian study that reported a high completed fertility ratio of 8.05 among a group of 68 highland women. Hoffs insistence that he provided data on age specific fertility rates in his Nunoan study is refuted. Hoff reported child-woman means not age specific fertility rates.