Biological Anthropology Section

Volunteered - Oral Presentation Session

From bodies to assays: Exploring multiple dimensions of health and disease in a food insecure community in Central African Republic

Global Health, Food Security, Biocultural

Presenter(s)

• EH

  Elizabeth Hall

This presentation highlights research in Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas (APDS) in Central African Republic (CAR) that explores the concept of health and disease across global, local, and academic dimensions. The population of APDS comprises a diverse mix of indigenous hunter gatherers and non-indigenous migrant groups all reliant upon forest resources for their nutrition and livelihoods. This study combines ethnography with laboratory analyses to explore diverse multidimensional aspects of health and disease. Through ethnographic interviews and participant observation, this research focuses on the everyday experiences of individuals. These data are matched and compared with immunological assays of Epstein-Barr virus and C-reactive protein to reveal ways ethnographic and biological data come together to elucidate a more holistic understanding of disease and health in local communities.