Alcohol and Survival Among Raute Hunter-Gatherers in Nepal
Author Information
Author(s): Derkx Inez, Menn Gina, Subedi Sudarshan, Upadhyaya Nagendra, Rajbhandari Prajwal, Gyawali Anita, Mace Ruth, Bertranpetit Jaume, Vinicius Lucio, Migliano Andrea Bamberg
Primary Institution: Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Hypothesis
How does alcohol consumption affect the survival and fertility of Raute hunter-gatherers?
Conclusion
Heavy drinking by parents significantly reduces offspring survival to age 15, but the Raute population remains stable.
Supporting Evidence
- Heavy drinking by either parent reduces offspring survival to age 15.
- Alcohol consumption negatively impacts maternal fertility.
- The Raute population size has remained stable over the last decades.
- Life expectancy at birth is 27.6 years for females and 21.1 years for males.
- 85% of the Raute population consumes alcohol, with only 5% reporting not drinking.
- Heavy drinkers have fewer living children compared to light drinkers.
Takeaway
Drinking alcohol can make it harder for kids to survive, but the Raute people are not disappearing anytime soon.
Methodology
The study involved a full census of the Raute population and analyzed the effects of parental alcohol consumption on child survival and maternal fertility.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from self-reported alcohol consumption and the small sample size.
Limitations
There is no data on survival and fertility before the introduction of monetary support, making long-term demographic trends difficult to assess.
Participant Demographics
The study included 144 Raute individuals, with 70 males and 74 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% credible intervals were broad due to small sample size.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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