Health and disease in a traditional-living tribe in southern Africa.

Abstract

An isolated traditional-living tribe has been identified in Southern Africa. The lifestyle, eating habits and socio-economic conditions have been studied intensively and are being correlated with the pattern of health and disease of the people. Physical examination, urinalyses, biochemical studies and X-ray investigations show a remarkable absence of the diseases normally associated with a Western lifestyle and yet no evidence of malnutrition was found. Those findings are compared with the results of investigations on urbanized black people. The aim of the study is to determine the long-term effects of inevitable westernization on this tribe.