Growing up in the suburbs: Growth faltering and disease burden in the children from 16th to 18th century Tallinn, Estonia
AbstractThis paper presents the results of the first large-scale study of children from early modern northern Estonia. A total of 191 non-adults (<17 years) from the 16th–18th century Tõnismägi cemetery in the suburbs of Tallinn were analyzed to gain a better understanding of the health and living environment of these low-status children. This was achieved through growth analysis and palaeopathological investigation of metabolic and respir atory diseases such as scurvy, vitamin D deficiency, and tuberculosis. Growth disruption was shown to be the most severe among non-adults aged between 4 and 9 years and comparable to children living in post-medieval London. It is unlikely that the children from Tallinn would have experienced the s ame level of industrial hazards as those in London, but poor socioeconomic status, an impoverished diet, and unsanitary living conditions in the suburbs had a detrimental effect on the growth of these non-adults. This was supported by a statistically significant correlation between growth faltering and respiratory infections and evidence for scurvy in 40% of the infants (n = 30). The most likely cause was early weaning and a diet devoid of vitamin C, induced by poverty and cultural practices. The prevalence of rickets was much lower when compared with other post-medieval populations in Europe, at just 1.2%. This suggests that children living in Tallinn were not d eprived of sunlight and may have had access to more green spaces.
Source: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology - Category: Science Authors: Linda Vilumets, Ülle Aguraiuja‐Lätti,
Mary Lewis Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
More News: Children | Diets | Environmental Health | Estonia Health | Nutrition | Respiratory Medicine | Science | Statistics | Study | Tuberculosis | Vitamin C | Vitamin D | Vitamin D Deficiency | Vitamins