Natural Selection among Bidi Workers of Sagar (MP), India

Abstract

Present paper is based on the study which was conducted to understand the intensity of natural selection and dynamics of evolution among Bidi workers. A socio-demographic survey of 119 household of Bidi workers of district Sagar was conducted. Subsamples of a total of 33 post menopausal women, who have completed their fertility, were used to compute Crow's index as well as Johnston and Kensinger index. The index of selection due to fertility (If) was found to be 0.158, which is less than the index of mortality (Im = 0.201) but higher than the index of embryonic mortality (Ime = 0.095). The Jhonston and Kensinger index of total selection was found to be higher (I2 = 0.524) than Crow's index of total selection (It = 0.393). It can be concluded that the moderate degree of natural selection was found to be operating among Bidi workers of central India. At the same time, it is a matter of great concern that the mortality component is higher than the fertility. In terms of percentage the contribution of fertility is 43% whereas remaining 57% is being contributed by postnatal (38.5%) and embryonic mortality (18%). It can be suggested that all possible measures should be taken to reduce embryonic, infant and childhood mortality among the Bidi workers.