Death and its effects on the family household: implications thereof within a Japanese pioneer agricultural community in the eastern lowlands of Bolivia.
Following the descriptive analysis of the deaths occurring within a Japanese pioneer agricultural community in the lowlands of eastern Bolivia, the impact of death on the permanency of the household and the family farming system was analyzed. During the 20 years since the establishment of the colony, adult male deaths were in a greater than twofold excess over those of adult females, and one-third of the number of deaths was attributable to unnatural causes. The death of adult members of the household was not directly related to remigration, but a significant association with remigration was found in the specific cases of death of the household head: the cases of sudden death from unnatural causes, or the cases in which the household contained no adult male who would take over the role of practicing pioneer farming after the demise of the head. The data also showed a retarded agricultural development where the head had died at an early stage of the establishment of the household. The results suggest that the family structure and the family life cycle of a household has an important safety-valve role in maintaining adjustment potential in the community.
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000383:Agriculture; D001838:Bolivia; D003643:Death; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male