Human Biology of Afro-Caribbean Populations [Paperback]

First published in 2006, this is a comprehensive review of the health, demography and population genetics of Caribbean populations of African descent.A comprehensive 2006 review of the health, demography and population genetics of Caribbean populations of African descent. It provides an evolutionary framework for understanding the epidemiology of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and the effects of infectious disease on the genetic make-up of these populations.A comprehensive 2006 review of the health, demography and population genetics of Caribbean populations of African descent. It provides an evolutionary framework for understanding the epidemiology of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and the effects of infectious disease on the genetic make-up of these populations.A comprehensive study of the microevolution of Caribbean populations of African descent, this 2006 book reviews the conditions endured by the slaves during their passage and in the plantations and how these conditions may have affected their own health and that of their descendants. Providing an evolutionary framework for understanding the epidemiology of common modern-day diseases such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes, it also looks at infectious diseases and their effect on the genetic make-up of Afro-Caribbean populations. Also covered are population genetics studies that have been used to understand the microevolutionary pathways for various populations, and demographic characteristics including the relationships between migration, family type and fertility. Ending with a case study of the Afro-Caribbean population of Lim?n, Costa Rica, this book is an essential resource for researchers working in biological anthropology, demography, and epidemiology, and for those interested in the African diaspora in the New World.1. The African slave trade and the Caribbean; 2. Obesity, hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes; 3. Infectious disease epidemiology and Afro-Caribbló‰