Health survey of the Onge tribe of Little Andamans
Swaminathan, M.C.; Krishnamurthi, D.; Iyengar, L.; Rao, D.H.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 59(7): 1136-1147
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 5170661 Document Number: 41127
The Onge of Little Andaman Island are of negrito type, nomadic food-gatherers and fishers, numbering 129 at the 1961 census. Their way of life is described. The island is shared by 400 to 500 labourers and officials who are not allowed to hunt the Onge staple food, wild pig. From them the Onge obtain cereals, pulse, tea and tobacco. The Onge have no latrines but usually do not pollute the water sources, streams and sometimes wells. Altogether 60 Onge people were examined, ranging from a girl aged under 6 months to 42 persons over 15 years old. Children and some adults were pot-bellied and women had steatopygia. They were generally healthy without congenital deformity, cell sickling, tuberculosis or leprosy, with normal blood pressure and immune to the malaria that infested the labourers. No blood parasite was found. The lowest Hb found was 10% and Hb was below 11% in only 116% of the Onge. All but 3 persons had normal serum cholesterol. All had normal blood glucose. Most had A group blood, Rh positive. Finger and palm prints of 17 Onge were similar to those of Dayaks, Koreans, Japanese and Malays. Up to 15 years old the Onge were heavier and after 15 years lighter than the rural population round Hyderabad. Tables give for different ages and sexes the bodyweight, height, circumference of head, chest, arm and calf, biacromial and bicristal diameter and skin-fold thickness at triceps and calf. The only sign of deficiency was Bitot's spots in 5 children aged 5 to 15 years. Exact intake was not known but that of vitamin A was thought to be low. Infants were not fed until the 3rd day of life then they were breast fed for 2 years, by a wet nurse if necessary, with cooked fish and an unidentified tuber from the 1st or 2nd month and adult food from 8 or 9 months. Honey was considered too "hot" for infants but honey and another tuber were taken to aid lactation. Pregnant women ate small fish and some pork. In illness the Onge avoided fat foods and ate carbohydrate foods such as tubers. Wild pig was the main staple but fish and turtle were important also. Fruit was eaten in season but not green vegetables except for an infusion of young leaves of screwpine (Pandanus) and betel leaf chewed with areca nut. Food intake varied from 3 or 4 meals a day including up to 2.5 kg pork, to no meals eaten for several days. Food was considered plentiful but development of the island may deplete resources. There was no information on natural calamity such as famine, epidemic or loss during pregnancy. There was no war or immigration. Over 40% of 12 women examined were infertile, though there was no obvious sign of infertility in either sex. Disparity in age between marriage partners may be a cause. The 12 women had had 23 children of whom 9 died. Malnutrition did not account for child mortality; the primitive conditions and exposure to infection and infestation may have something to do with it. With the development of the island, facilities for medical prevention and treatment and for care of mothers and children were required; the Onge are decreasing in numbers.