Effects of a hurricane on growth and morbidity in children from low-income families in Kingston, Jamaica.
This is the first report of the effects of a hurricane on children's health and nutritional status in which data were available preceding and following the event. When Hurricane Gilbert struck Jamaica in 1988, a longitudinal study was in progress in which children's weights and heights were recorded every 2 months and their morbidity histories taken every week. The investigation included 127 stunted (low height-for-age) and 32 non-stunted children aged 23-44 months, living in poor areas of Kingston. The data from the 4 months before and after the hurricane were compared. There was an increase in the occurrence of respiratory symptoms including rapid or difficult breathing (P < 0.04), coughs (P < 0.001) and nasal discharges (P < 0.001) during the first 2-month period after the hurricane. However there was no significant effect on the occurrence of diarrhoea and injuries. Deficits were also found in height gain (P < 0.001) during the same period. These adverse effects were found in spite of the large amount of food aid received and the aggressive health education programme implemented after the hurricane.
Simeon
D T
DT
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of The West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.
Grantham-McGregor
S M
SM
Walker
S P
SP
Powell
C A
CA
D001827:Body Height; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004190:Disasters; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007563:Jamaica; D009017:Morbidity; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011203:Poverty; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors