Background: Reproductive physiology of the peoples living in high altitude is affected by reduction in O2 supply than their counterparts. High altitude peoples are characterized with reduction of sperm count and elevated number of abnormal spermatozoa in males and delayed menarche among females. This study deals with the effects of altitude on reproductive physiology among the Monpa of Arunachal Pradesh residing in high as well as low altitude.
Design and setting: Dirang and Tawang Monpa were studied. Dirang Monpa residing in Dirang town (1600 m) and its surrounding areas were selected. Side by side, Tawang Monpa residing in Tawang town (3048 m) were selected. Altogether, 134 Tawang and 78 Dirang Monpa mothers, who were aged 45 years and above were studied.
Method: A door-to door survey was undertaken with the help of a structured schedule.
Results: Completed family size among the Dirang Monpa was 4.60±0.06 and the mean number of surviving children was 4.32±0.07. These values among the Tawang Monpa were 4.16±0.08 and 3.84±0.08 respectively. Mean of live birth among the Dirang Monpa was 3.50±0.07 and among the Tawang Monpa was 3.14±0.06. Infant and child mortality among the Dirang Monpa were 33.98 and 27.18. Whereas, these were 40.22 and 30.51 respectively among the Tawang Monpa.
Discussion: Both the mortalities (infant and child) were comparatively higher among the Tawang Monpa than that of the Dirang Monpa. In case of average live births a reverse trend is perceptible. In fine, it can be said that low live births among the high altitude Monpa (Tawang Monpa) is indicative of altitudinal stresses on biological traits among them.