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Lactation, birth spacing and maternal work-loads among two castes in rural Nepal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Catherine Panter-Brick
Catherine Panter-Brick
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Oxford
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Summary

The nursing behaviour of rural Nepali women, from two castes inhabiting the same village, is quantified on the basis of 2202 hr of continuous and direct day-time observation over 1 year. Feed duration, interval, total time and daily frequency are examined in relation to women's work, particularly the type of subsistence activity and seasonality. ‘Opportunity’ feeds are governed both by infant demands and maternal activity. Caste differences in birth intervals are also discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , April 1991 , pp. 137 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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