Anthropological Review 2025, Vol. 88 No. 1

Prevalence of Undernutrition and its Socio-Demographic Determinants among Rural Bengalee Muslim Preschool Children of Bankura District, West Bengal, India

2025-04-08T01:19:13Z

Prevalence of Undernutrition and its Socio-Demographic Determinants among Rural Bengalee Muslim Preschool Children of Bankura District, West Bengal, India Hoque, Sk Anamul; , MD Anisujjaman; Bose, Kaushik; Biswas, Sadaruddin Despite recent global economic growth, the high prevalence of child undernutrition is an urgent public health issue in low and middle-income countries, including India. Moreover, one-third of infant mortality is associated with undernutrition. The present cross-sectional study aims to report the burden of undernutrition and to explore its association with socio-demographic variables among the Bengalee Muslim preschool children of Bankura district, West Bengal, India. This present study was conducted among 800 preschool children (400 males and 400 females) aged 12 to 59 months. The children were selected using a systematic random sampling method, and the sample size was estimated using standard formula. Descriptive, parametric, non-parametric, and inferential statistical analyses were performed accordingly. Males were taller and heavier than females. Significant age variations in mean height and weight were found among the study participants. The overall prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight was 23.0%, 30.5%, and 36.0%, respectively. The results of the chi-square test showed that all the socio-demographic variables were significantly associated with the nutritional status of these children. A multivariate logistic regression revealed that non-exclusive breastfeeding, higher birth order, and the lower mothers’ age at childbirth were the significant predictors of stunting. Low family income, large family size, and low maternal educational status were the significant predictors of wasting. Moreover, low family income, non-exclusive breastfeeding, and mothers’ age at childbirth were significant predictors of underweight. The findings of the present study revealed that there were numerous determinants of undernutrition among the Bengalee Muslim preschool children. Therefore, the appropriate government and non-government agencies should adopt the policy for an income-generating scheme to enhance household income, awareness of exclusive breastfeeding, family planning, adult education programmes, and surveillance against child marriage.

Sexual Dimorphism in Estimated Stature from Long Bones in Gilimanuk, Semawang, Plawangan, and Recent Sample in Indonesia

2025-04-08T01:19:15Z

Sexual Dimorphism in Estimated Stature from Long Bones in Gilimanuk, Semawang, Plawangan, and Recent Sample in Indonesia Hastuti, Janatin; Prayudi, Ashwin; Rahmawati , Neni Trilusiana; Fauzi, Noorman Hendry; Suriyanto, Rusyad Adi The study of sexual dimorphism among ancient skeletons can provide information on community health in the past. Meanwhile, the younger geological age of skeletal remains from Gilimanuk, Semawang, and Plawangan have received little attention. This study aimed to evaluate the sexual dimorphism in estimated stature of Gilimanuk, Semawang, Plawangan, in addition to a recent sample, of long bones. Observations were conducted on 44 (16 males, 28 females) skeletal remains of Gilimanuk, nine of Semawang (five males, four females) and 11 of Plawangan, (four males, seven females), and nine of recent (four males, five females) human skeletons stored at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Stature was estimated from the length of long bones. The highest average stature in the ancient sample was for Gilimanuk females (168.74 ± 9.18 cm) and males (174.10 ± 9.42 cm) in the age 16–<20 years. However, the averages of estimated stature in all ages were similar in both sexes. The average estimated stature of Semawang and Plawangan remains was slightly lower than those of Gilimanuk remains, i.e., 162.60 ± 3.97 and 159.08 ± 1.59 cm, respectively. In comparison, the recent human skeletons indicated that the average estimated stature was 168.32 ± 4.70 for males and 160.45 ± 6.89 cm for females. Our findings indicate that long bone measurements are comparable among remains from each sample. However, sexual dimorphism in estimated stature was clearly greater in recent human remains in comparison to Gilimanuk, Semawang, and Plawangan skeletal remains. Our findings suggest temporal changes in stature in this part of Indonesia.

Relationships between Sociosexuality and Dermatoglyphic Traits

2025-04-08T01:19:11Z

Relationships between Sociosexuality and Dermatoglyphic Traits Ingrová, Pavlína; Králík, Miroslav; Polcerová, Lenka; Pavlíková, Věra; Klíma, Ondřej; Čuta, Martin In humans, prenatal development of brain dispositions to sex differences in mating behavior is difficult to study directly. Indirect prenatal markers, including dermatoglyphics, present a viable option.In this study we tested a hypothesis that some radio-ulnar contrasts in dermatoglyphic ridge counts could be related with human sociosexuality.Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI) data from 180 young adults, along with fingerprints of their terminal phalanges (via hand scanning) were collected, and relationships between SOI and dermatoglyphics were analyzed.Typical sex differences in SOI were recorded with higher scores in males and lower in females. Among other results we found that on the index finger lower number of triradii and cores (i.e., mostly in loop type dermatoglyphic patterns) and radial-biased within-finger asymmetry in ridge counts typical for ulnar loops were connected with typical sex differences in SOI (higher in males and lower in females) while in subjects possessing an opposite dermatoglyphic arrangement – higher numbers of cores and triradii and ulnar-biased within-finger ridge count asymmetry typical in radial loops – sex differences in SOI scores disappeared. Recognized significant and systematic trends were mostly connected with variables derived from dermatoglyphic features on the 2nd and 4th fingers.Possible relationships with prenatal androgen causation are discussed.

The Association of Body Temperature with Longevity: Insights from Historical Cohorts

2025-04-08T01:19:16Z

The Association of Body Temperature with Longevity: Insights from Historical Cohorts Chmielewski, Piotr Paweł; Chmielowiec, Krzysztof Effective thermoregulation is crucial for maintaining homeostasis. Previous research has suggested a link between lower steady-state body temperature and longevity, particularly in physically healthy, nonobese older adults. However, the exact mechanisms behind this relationship remain unclear. Despite the physiological insights gained from studies on body temperature, limited attention has been given to its potential role as a biomarker of longevity in physically healthy older populations. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between body temperature and longevity using historical data from two cohorts. The longitudinal cohort consisted of 142 individuals, followed for 25 years beginning at age 45, while the cross-sectional cohort included 204 individuals stratified into four lifespan categories. To examine agerelated trends in body temperature, Page’s test was employed, and ordinal regression was used. The analysis revealed a significant decrease in body temperature in women with age, while men showed no significant change. The cross-sectional analysis indicated a trend toward lower body temperatures in individuals with longer lifespans. Lower body temperature may reflect a reduced metabolic rate, thereby mitigating oxidative stress and molecular damage, both of which are known to drive aging and limit lifespan. Furthermore, lower body temperatures may signal a favorable inflammatory profile, which could translate into slower aging and increased survival. However, the observed sex-specific differences in thermoregulatory patterns raise important questions about the role of hormonal influences, such as estrogen levels. Overall, these findings suggest that lower lifetime steady-state body temperature may be a biomarker of healthy aging and longevity, warranting further exploration of its mechanistic underpinnings.