AFRO-NETS> Maternal Health: Is there any pre-colonial data? (2)

[Mary Jabulani <MBJabulani@aol.com>]

Maternal Health: Is there any pre-colonial data? (2)
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Maria--I have no idea where or if pre-colonial stats are avail-
able. I don't think statistical measures were used widely in 
medicine anywhere until the late 19th/early 20th century?? But 
depending on what you need the data for, you might be able to 
get a baseline approximation. I think when archaeologists want 
to estimate stats like this for an ancient civilization, they 
begin with demographical data on pre-industrial/medieval Europe-
-somewhere in France???--data which *are* known to a certain ex-
tent, if I'm not mistaken. Then they work with and adapt the 
data in any way possible to the particular civilization they are 
studying.
 
Of course the assumption (and weak spot?) here is that the 
"baseline" mortality rate for medieval Europe is close enough to 
that of any non-industrialized civilization to be useful, that 
it reflects the biological capacities and limits of human beings 
anywhere. And Africa is home to so many varied cultures, cli-
mates, food sources, etc. that these variations would need to be 
taken into account.
 
Other sources of information about pre-colonial mortality rates 
might be oral tradition; any written history of medicine as 
practiced in Africa before colonization; traditional customs 
surrounding reproduction, or responding to mortality and death--
for example, do these customs suggest an awareness that the 
mother and/or child may very well be lost at birth? Did the cus-
toms change after colonization, and what is now known about the 
relative safety of the pre-colonial vs. colonial birthing meth-
ods?? Again, the internal diversity of Africa would need to be 
accounted for.
 
These are all likely to be "qualitative" as opposed to "quanti-
tative" sources but quite valuable all the same.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Mary Jabulani
mailto:MBJabulani@aol.com

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