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 h ealth and nutritional status in which data were available preceding an d following the event. When Hurricane Gilbert struck jamaica in 1988, a longitudinal study was in progress in which children's weights and h eights were recorded every 2 months and their morbidity histories take n every week. The investigation included 127 stunted (low height-for-a ge) and 32 non-stunted children aged 23-44 months, living in poor area s of Kingston. The data from the 4 months before and after the hurrica ne were compared. There was an increase in the occurrence of respirato ry 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 o ccurrence of diarrhoea and injuries. Deficits were also found in heigh t gain (P<0.001) during the same period. These adverse effects were fo und in spite of the large amount of food aid received and the aggressi ve health education programme implemented after the hurricane.