Acta Tropica 95 (2005) 16–25 Morbidity and nutrition patterns of three nomadic pastoralist communities of Chad E. Schelling a,∗ , S. Daoud b , D.M. Daugla c , P. Diallo d , M. Tanner a , J. Zinsstag a a Swiss Tropical Institute, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland b Direction de la Planification de la Formation, Programme Elargi de Vaccination, B.P. 440, N’Djam´ ena, Chad c Centre de Support en Sant´ e Internationale, B.P. 972, N’Djam´ ena, Chad d Organisation Mondiale de la Sant´ e, B.P. 152, N’Djam´ ena, Chad Received 18 February 2003; received in revised form 28 February 2005; accepted 8 March 2005 Available online 29 April 2005 Abstract As a part of an interdisciplinary research and action programme, morbidity and nutritional patterns were assessed in three nomadic communities: Fulani and Arab cattle breeders and Arab camel breeders, of two prefectures in Chad. The predominant morbidity pattern of Chadian nomadic pastoralists (representing approximately 10% of the total population of the country) had not been documented so far. A total of 1092 women, men and children was examined by a physician and interviewed during two surveys in the dry season and one in the wet season (1999–2000). Participants with no complaint were rare. Pulmonary disorders (e.g. bronchitis) were most often diagnosed for children under 5 years of age. Of the adult participants, 4.6% were suspected of tuberculosis. Febrile diarrhoea occurred more often during the wet season when access to clean drinking water was precarious. Malaria was only rarely clinically diagnosed among Arabs during the dry season, whereas Fulani, who stayed in the vicinity of Lake Chad, were also affected during this period. A 24-h dietary recall showed that less Arab women than men consumed milk during the dry season (66% versus 92%). Malnutrition was only documented for 3 out of 328 children (0–14 years). Arab women in childbearing age had a higher proportion of children not surviving when compared to Fulani women (0.2 versus 0.07). This study identified several implications for reseach and interventions in nomadic settings. Innovative and integrated health services for nomads can possibly be extended to many settings as nomadic pastoralists have in common a similar way of life driven by the needs of their animals. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Morbidity; Nutrition; Nomadic pastoralists; Chad ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +41 61 284 81 11; fax: +41 61 284 82 05. E-mail address: esther.schelling@unibas.ch (E. Schelling). 1. Introduction Morbidity and nutritional patterns of nomadic pas- toralists might differ from the settled agropastoralist 0001-706X/$ – see front matter © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2005.03.006