Mountain People Research Articles

Addiction and Violence Prevention in the United States

I have lived and worked in the Appalachian south for fifty years. In the 1960s I worked with rural mountain folk in the mountains of western North Carolina. During this time, I took a master’s degree in social psychology at Appalachian State University. This was a blended degree of Sociology and Psychology. This interdisciplinary degree paired with applied experience in communities with cultures different from my own over fifty years.

Facebooking by Adolescents: A Narrative Review

I have lived and worked in the Appalachian south for fifty years. In the 1960s I worked with rural mountain folk in the mountains of western North Carolina. During this time, I took a master’s degree in social psychology at Appalachian State University. This was a blended degree of Sociology and Psychology. This interdisciplinary degree paired with applied experience in communities with cultures different from my own over fifty years.

Addiction and Psychology

I have lived and worked in the Appalachian south for fifty years. In the 1960s I worked with rural mountain folk in the mountains of western North Carolina. During this time, I took a master’s degree in social psychology at Appalachian State University. This was a blended degree of Sociology and Psychology. This interdisciplinary degree paired with applied experience in communities with cultures different from my own over fifty years.

Entrepreneurial Productivity of Single and Non Single Women of Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Despite that women’s socio-economic status is poor, there involvement in entrepreneurial development is low. Data shows that women’s participation in income generating activities and their access to property is quite unsatisfactory. Globally, only eight percent small scale-manufacturing units are owned and operated by women. Compared to the universal statistics, Nepal’s scenario is different because the country owns more than six lakhs small scale manufacturing units. In these units women’s participation is relatively higher. Certain ethnic community, especially the Newar and Tibeto–Burman highland groups such as the Sherpa, Gurung and Thakali, are known to have a long tradition of women being involved in small business enterprises. However, women’s ownership of these enterprises is extremely low. This study aims to examine the entrepreneurial status of single and non-single women who are engaged in entrepreneurial activities in Kathmandu Metropolitan city. It also analyzes the entrepreneurial productivity of the enterprises run by the women. In order to discuss the objectives, primary data was collected from field work. This study found that single women’s involvement in the small businesses was encouraging. The entrepreneurial productivity of the enterprises run by single-women was higher than non-single women.

Dietary Iron Intake and Availability in Hill Tribe and Urban Women, Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand

ABSTRACT Data were collected as part of a cross-sectional study. The objectives were to compare dietary intakes of iron and enhancers and inhibitors of non-heme iron absorption in hill tribe and urban women of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, and compare iron- and vitamin C- containing foods sold in markets in both settings. Dietary data were collected using three 24- hour recalls from 128 women aged 19–50 years (hill tribe: n = 65; urban n = 63), and proportions of low-, medium- and high-iron/vitamin C containing foods were surveyed in local markets. Hill tribe women consumed less iron, animal protein, vitamin C and calcium, but market availability of iron/vitamin C foods was similar. Future interventions should focus on food choice modification, to improve intakes of iron and foods that enhance its absorption, especially among hill tribe women.

Drinking Water Investigation of Hill Tribes: A Case Study in Northern Thailand

Hill tribes are a group of people who live in remote areas in northern Thailand. They typically use untreated water for drinking, that can lead several health problems. The six main hill tribes—Akha, Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lisu, and Yao—were selected for the study. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Water samples were collected from the selected villages and tested for the quality at Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand. Results: the major sources of drinking water were mountain water supplies (74.3%), and commercial bottled water (21.4%). Easy access, sufficiency for the whole year, and food-drug administration sign labeled were the criteria used for selecting sources of drinking water. Colorless and safety were also used as a selection criteria for their drinking water in some tribes. Lisu, Karen, and Hmong treated their drinking water by boiling, while Akha and Lahu stored the water in certain containers to allow particle settling before drinking water without treatment. 42.0% of the water samples had a turbidity values <5 NTU, and total coliform and fecal coliform bacteria were detected in 100.0% of the samples. To prevent water-borne diseases among the hill tribe people, appropriate water treatments such as boiling, filtration, and disinfection are recommended.

Civil War in the North Caucasus in the Reflection of the Mountainous Bourgeoise-Democratic Print (On the Materials of “Volnyy Gorets” Newspaper)

Introduction. The article attempts to analyze the attitude of the Mountainous government in exile and the Union of Mountaineers of the North Caucasus and Dagestan in a broader sense to the events of the Civil War in the North Caucasus in 1919–1920 based on local printing. Methods and materials. The main emphasis is placed on the analysis of materials of “Volny Gorets” newspaper of the Mountainous government. The authors use the problemchronological, historical-systemic method and the system-functional analysis method. Analysis. The article analyzes the attitude of the mountainous democrats, expressed on the pages of the newspaper, to such aspects of the Civil War as the union of mountain peoples with the Bolsheviks, the assessment of the white and red plans for the mountain regions, the real policy of the warring parties in 1917–1920, the prospects for a confederative structure of the Caucasus. The split of mountain unity by the Bolsheviks is considered by their prosecutors the main reason why the North Caucasus was not able to resist the Denikin invasion. Results. “Volny Gorets” publication is an important and extremely informative source on the events in the North Caucasus during the Civil War of 1919–1920. The newspaper’s publications are both purely informational and analytical. The analysis given by the newspaper’s authors is deep and sober. The events of the civil war in the North Caucasus attracted the closest attention of the editors and, on the whole, remained the priority topic of publications in each issue of “Volny Gorets” during 1919–1920. The analysis of the publication is relatively free from ideological press and bias that distinguishes both purely “white” and “red” publications of that time.

The Factors associated with the unsuccessful tuberculosis treatment of hill tribe patients in Thailand

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious public-health problem worldwide. The successful tuberculosis treatment was in low rate among the hill tribes in Thailand. This study aimed to determine factors associated with the unsuccessful tuberculosis treatment among the hill tribe TB patients in northern Thailand. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using secondary data from the national TB reporting system. Data of newly registered hill tribe patients with TB receiving treatment were obtained from 18 government hospitals in Chiang Rai province, during 2014-2017. TB treatment outcomes and factors associated with unsuccessful were determined. A total of 770 hill tribe patients with TB registered during the study period. The majority were males aged 25-64 years. About 80% of the patients lived in rural areas and 53.9% worked in agriculture. The overall TB treatment success rate was 80.4%. Two factors were associated with unsuccessful TB treatment: ages 25-44 and ages 45-64 (aOR 3.14 (1.03-9.55) and 3.02 (1.01-9.03), respectively) and receiving antiretroviral drugs (proxy of HIV infection) (aOR 2.30 (1.02-5.15)). Although the TB treatment success rate among hill tribe patients did not reach the national goal, it was still higher than that of other Thai TB patients in the area. In Thailand, hill tribe people can access health services free-of-charge under the national health insurance. This could influence the successful treatment. However, some barriers need to be considered, such as the high default rate and high death rate among those with HIV coinfection.

Living with and responding to risk in the Uttarakhand Himalayas: A call for prioritizing lived experiences in research policy praxis

Based on primary data collected from three hamlets located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India, this paper brings together pieces of the communities' grounded experiences of living with risks. It contributes towards a fuller and more nuanced picture of their encounters (both brief and prolonged) with adverse environmental events that are part and parcel of life in this region. The study with an aim of benefitting the very communities being studied draws on an inductive research methodology which prioritizes lived realities among heterogeneous communities. The case studies illustrate the ground reality of life in a multi-hazardous environment that exposes communities to a diversity of adverse situations. The cases discussed exemplify the undeniable reality of ongoing socio-ecological processes that affect hill people in different forms and intensities over time and space (disaster risk reduction focus), which further invites a broadening of the more conventional view that sees disasters as aberrations that occur in an otherwise stable landscape (an event focus). While for some this reality manifests as mega-events that have a clear beginning and end, for others they take the form of silent disasters, sluggish small scale and recurring, but whose cumulative impacts are no less disastrous. While the former grabs attention and relief work, the latter deemed as seasonal occurrences, often go under the official radar and fail to get the engagement they deserve. Gradually these events erode livelihood security and extract an immense psycho-social toll, de-stabilising people's sense of security, rootedness and future prospects. By bringing forth fresh field-based perspectives that speak to the mundane tribulations of mountain people, nuanced by caste, gender, and remoteness, this paper contributes to research-policy praxis by bringing alive the multi-layered and multi-dimensional lived experience of adverse environmental events.

The risk of type 2 diabetes in the native population of highlands Aksay of Kyrgyzstan

Objective: Highlands Aksay of Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan has specific natural and climatic conditions and located at altitude of 3000 m above sea level. We aimed to study 10-years risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the native population of highlands Aksay of Naryn Region of Kyrgyzstan. Methods: Overall, 152 indigenous people (50 men and 102 women) of highlands Aksay of Naryn region (3260-3680 m) were studied using one-step sampling. The study was random, subjected to the conditions of singleness and territoriality. FINDRISС questionnaire was used to calculate the risk of T2DM. Results: Women of highlands Aksay had a significantly higher prevalence of waist circumference (WC) &amp;qt;80 cm, body mass index (BMI) &amp;qt;25 kg/m2 and irregular intake of fruits and vegetables, whereas men showed irregular intake of fruits and vegetables, BMI&amp;qt;25 kg/m2, and WC&amp;qt; 94 cm. Conclusion: The features of the 10-year-old risk of developing T2DM in the indigenous people of the highlands of Kyrgyzstan include the predominance of abdominal obesity and the irregular intake of fruits and vegetables. When stratifying the risks of developing T2DM, low risk predominates, and a very high risk does not occur. The prognosis of the indigenous people of the highlands of Kyrgyzstan regarding the risk of developing T2DM depends on phenotypic factors and living conditions in the highlands, with hypoxia playing the leading role. Among the mountain people of Kyrgyzstan, metabolic factors are dominated by abdominal obesity and, probably, to reduce the risks of developing diabetes, along with the fight against other negative factors, regular intake of vegetables and fruits is effective.

Political ecology, privation and sustainable livelihoods in northern Thailand's national parks

National parks provide a wide range of ecological, social and economic benefits. However, in some cases the establishment of national parks has also lead to the displacement of indigenous people, the disruption of their livelihoods, and ongoing social conflict. Northern Thailand's national parks are home to approximately one million indigenous people. Balancing the interests and needs of national park authorities with those of indigenous communities within and adjacent to these parks poses significant challenges. This article employs qualitative research methods to assess the livelihood strategies of six indigenous hill tribe communities residing within three national parks in Northern Thailand. Due to the criminalization of the traditional farming systems and restrictions imposed on land use, these communities have had to adapt their livelihood practices to survive. Our findings suggest that communities remain in a state of flux and are continually adapting to changing circumstances. It is argued that greater community empowerment and participation in collaborative decision making is crucial to strengthen both sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation efforts within Northern Thailand's national parks.Keywords: Sustainable livelihoods, co-management, Northern Thailand, national parks, social justice

Associations of Childhood Experiences and Methamphetamine Use Among Akha and Lahu Hill Tribe Youths in Northern Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Methamphetamine (MA) is a commonly used substance among youths, particularly those who are living in poor economic conditions with low levels of education and who have had bad childhood experiences. The Akha and Lahu hill tribe youths living on the Thailand-Myanmar-Laos Republic border are identified as the group most vulnerable to MA use in Thailand. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MA use and determine its associations with childhood experiences among Akha and Lahu youths aged 15-24 years in northern Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of MA use and determine its association with childhood experiences among Akha and Lahu youths living in northern Thailand. Validated and sealed questionnaires were used to gather information from participants after obtaining the informed consent form. Questionnaires were completed by participants and their parents at home. Logistic regression was used to identify the associations between variables at the α=0.05 level. Findings: A total of 710 participants participated in the study: 54.2% were Akha, 52.5% were females, 50.6% were aged 15-17 years (mean=18.1, SD=2.7), and 11.4% did not have Thai ID cards. The prevalence of MA use at least once among Akha and Lahu youths was 14.5%. In multivariate analysis, eight variables were found to be associated with MA use among Akha and Lahu youths in northern Thailand: sex, age, a family member who uses MA, smoking, a close friend who uses alcohol, highly confident personality, history of physical assault from a family member at an age of 0-5 years, and history of physical assault from a family member while aged 6-14 years. Males had a 4.97-fold (95% CI=2.08-10.23) greater likelihood of MA use than females. Participants aged 18-20 years and 21-24 years had a 1.96-fold (95% CI=1.03-3.71) and 2.50-fold (95% CI=1.23-5.10) greater likelihood of MA use than those aged 15-17 years, respectively. Those who had a family member who used MA had a 5.80-fold (95% CI=1.99-16.91) greater risk of MA use than those who did not. Those who smoked had a 8.9-fold (95% CI=4.88-16.29) greater likelihood of MA use than those who did not. Those who had a close friend who used alcohol had a 2.21-fold (95% CI=1.17-4.18) greater risk of MA use than those who did not. Those who had a highly confident personality had a 2.08-fold (95% CI=1.07-4.06) greater risk of MA use than those who did not. Those who had been physically assaulted by a family member while aged 0-5 years had a 2.37-fold (95% CI=1.18-5.21) greater chance of MA use than those who had not, and those who had been physically assaulted by a family member while aged 6-14 years had a 3.28-fold (95% CI=1.38-7.77) greater risk of MA use than those who had not. Interpretation: All relevant government and nongovernment agencies together with the Ministry of Public Health Thailand should address MA use among Akha and Lahu youths by properly developing a community health intervention that is focused on improving family relationships, male youths, smoking, and individuals with a highly confident personality. Funding Statement: This project was supported by the National Research Council of Thailand, Mae Fah Luang University, and The Center of Excellence for the Hill Tribe Health Research. TA was awarded the research grant from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) (Grant No. 29/ 2561). Declaration of Interests: Authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: All research concept, procedures, and instruments were approved by the Mae Fah Luang University Research Ethic Committee on Human Research (REH-60141).

Banqladeş - deltaik daşqın düzənliyi dağlıq mənzərəsinin rolunu araşdırır

Bangladesh is a deltaic floodplain which is blessed with many major rivers which originate from the young mountains outside the national borders of Bangladesh. These rivers are the most prominent feature, influencing the overall socio-economic condition of the country. Analysis of the geological setting show that the Bengal basin has been filled with sediments derived from erosion of the highland boundaries on all three landward sides. The objectives of the study is to explore the structure and composition of the hilly landscape, the changes of these components due to natural calamities, unplanned anthropogenic development that has affected the biodiversiy, widllife habitat and other ecosystem components. The study shows that upstream water pollution has caused a reduction of fresh water availability on the floodplain area. As a result, food, habitat and livelihood security has fallen under threat for both mountainous and plains people. The paper was prepared based on reviewing scientific literatures and the secondary data was obtained with necessary modification. Runoff data for hilly areas was generated from average rainfall data obtained from the Meteorology department. The study reveals the effects of mountainous landscape degradation in the northeastern and eastern parts of the country that may breakdown the ecosystem and affect the downstream inhabitants in various ways like food security etc. Both long-term and short-term policies should be adopted to resolve the issues.

ВКЛАД Е. М. МЕЛЕТИНСКОГО В КАВКАЗСКОЕ ЭПОСОВЕДЕНИЕ: К 100-ЛЕТИЮ СО ДНЯ РОЖДЕНИЯ УЧЕНОГО

The article analyses the contribution of Meletinsky to Caucasian epic studies. The role of Caucasian epic traditions in the study of the problem of the origins and the early forms of the epos is considered. A significant number of the comparative-typological studies of Meletinsky are based on the materials of mythoepic cultures of Caucasus mountain people. The scholar singled out the Caucasian epics, along with some other traditions, as the special early stage in the history of the epic. Meletinsky was one of the pioneers in the fundamental studies of the Caucasian Nart epics. Based on the analysis of materials available to him at that time, Meletinsky comes to the fundamental conclusions on the genre nature, national versions, images, subjects and motifs of the Nart epic. The scholar considered Sataney and Sasrykua to be the earliest characters in the epic, whose images clearly reflected the features of a cultural hero, especially in the close Abkhaz and Adyg versions. Furthermore, according to Meletinsky, the Transcaucasian legends about the chained heroes – Abkhaz Abryskil, Armenian Mger and Georgian Amiran – represent a kind of interweaving of mythological epic and heroic tales, in which the motives of cultural exploits are largely supplanted by episodes of the heroic struggle with Giants. In the studies of Meletinsky, the epic traditions of the people of the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia are subjected to the deepest analysis at a very high level of comparative studies.

Mountain Farmers&amp;apos; Perception of on-farm Environmental Degradation, the Case of Damota, Southern Ethiopia

Mountain people understand environmental degradation only at times when they lost the production options of their farmlands that sustained them in the past. This study was conducted to assess the farmers’ perception of on-farm environmental degradation in mount Damota, Southern Ethiopia. Data collection techniques used in this study was interviews, focus group discussions, field observations and questionnaires. Multi-stage Purposive and Systematic sampling technique methods were used to select study sites and households, respectively. Using systematic sampling technique from all the four kebeles of the Woreda a total of 200 households was selected. Data were presented in descriptive statistics. The result of the study shows that almost all households appreciate the causes, indicators and problems of on-farm environmental degradation. 69% of the respondents agree that their land is severely eroded while 24.5% say it is moderate on their land holding. Only 6.5% say the erosion rate is slight on their land holding and none of the respondents doubt the problem of soil erosion on their agricultural productivity and natural resource base. The main reason of depletion of the natural vegetation as perceived by the respondents is clearance of the forest for farming, over grazing and timber cutting. About the climatic problems of farm lands on the mountain, flood during the rainy season (which is also the growing season) is their main problem and windstorm and drought were also seen by the study population as the main climatic problem of the area.

Generosity among the Ik of Uganda.

According to Turnbull's 1972 ethnography The Mountain People, the Ik of Uganda had a culture of selfishness that made them uncooperative. His claims contrast with two widely accepted principles in evolutionary biology, that humans cooperate on larger scales than other species and that culture is an important facilitator of such cooperation. We use recently collected data to examine Ik culture and its influence on Ik behaviour. Turnbull's observations of selfishness were not necessarily inaccurate but they occurred during a severe famine. Cooperation re-emerged when people once again had enough resources to share. Accordingly, Ik donations in unframed Dictator Games are on par with average donations in Dictator Games played by people around the world. Furthermore, Ik culture includes traits that encourage sharing with those in need and a belief in supernatural punishment of selfishness. When these traits are used to frame Dictator Games, the average amounts given by Ik players increase. Turnbull's claim that the Ik have a culture of selfishness can be rejected. Cooperative norms are resilient, and the consensus among scholars that humans are remarkably cooperative and that human cooperation is supported by culture can remain intact.

Элементы заповедания в природопользовании адыгской (черкесской) культуры

The historical roots of the origins of the reserve management among the Adyghe (Circassian) tribes, archival and historical materials, oral information, legends associated with the life of mountain peoples, which testify to the established relationship with nature, are considered. The objects of worship of the highlanders are indicated: sacred groves, age-old trees, examples of careful and reverent attitude to the forest are given. People’s nature protection among the Adyghe tribes prepared a fairly solid foundation for the subsequent state form of protection.

ON THE ISSUE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL STRUCTURE OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IN THE TEREK DISTRICT OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS REGION

The article is devoted to the process and results of territorial self-determination of national minorities in the Terek district in 1924-1930 within the framework of the Soviet national construction. This problem has not yet found special coverage in the scientifi c literature. The study determined the nature and degree of infl uence of the geographical location of the Terek district and its ethno-social structure on the processes of administrative and territorial arrangement of national minorities. The features of settlement, social and religious structure of the largest ethnic groups are determined. The main priorities in the implementation of the policy of territorial separation of ethnic groups living in the region are indicated. The main criteria for creating national territorial entities, including Soviets of villages of the hill people and Soviets of villages of the Russian Cossacks, are highlighted. Projects on allocation of national districts and areas are analysed. Objective and subjective factors that hindered the implementation of these projects were identifi ed. It was proved that the national policy in the Terek district was subject to signifi cant adjustments due to local ethnic, social, cultural, economic and political specifi cs. It is noted that the ethnosocial structure of national minorities in the region was extremely heterogeneous. It was revealed that the Cossack factor continued to play an important role in the process of territorial self-determination of national minorities in the Terek district.

The Divine Kingship of The Tagoi OF The Nuba Mountains—Sudan

This article traces history of the formation of a divine kingship among the Tagoi people of the north-eastern Nuba Mountains. This historical backdrop provides a context for investigating change and continuity in the Tagoi political system. Concentrating on actual processes, the article gives some accounts on how the divinization of Tagoi kingship could be a political move to bolster the legitimacy of personalized powers. Relevance of the comparatively old evolutionist, diffusionist, structuralist and neo-evolutionist theories of divine kingship to the Tagoi case is discussed. Here, the main conclusion was that the Tagoi’s concept of “divine king” does not exactly apply to any of the definitions that are embedded in these theories, as it portrays—in a measure—a distinct and genuine type of divine kingship. The analyses and interpretations are also supported by the relatively modern concepts of galactic polity, mimesis, perspectivism, and mutlinaturalism.

The Divine Kingship of The Tagoi OF The Nuba Mountains—Sudan

This article traces history of the formation of a divine kingship among the Tagoi people of the north-eastern Nuba Mountains. This historical backdrop provides a context for investigating change and continuity in the Tagoi political system. Concentrating on actual processes, the article gives some accounts on how the divinization of Tagoi kingship could be a political move to bolster the legitimacy of personalized powers. Relevance of the comparatively old evolutionist, diffusionist, structuralist and neo-evolutionist theories of divine kingship to the Tagoi case is discussed. Here, the main conclusion was that the Tagoi’s concept of “divine king” does not exactly apply to any of the definitions that are embedded in these theories, as it portrays—in a measure—a distinct and genuine type of divine kingship. The analyses and interpretations are also supported by the relatively modern concepts of galactic polity, mimesis, perspectivism, and mutlinaturalism.