CHRONIC ILLNESS IN PRESCHOOL JORDANIAN CHILDREN

This is a prevalence study of chronic illness and disability in Jordan ian children 0-7 years of age living in Sweileh, a suburb of Amman. Th e study was performed in 1991. A total number of 2528 children were ex amined, representing more than 95% of the children 0-7 years in the ca tchment area. Of these, 198 (7.8%) had a disability or a chronic disea se. Fifty-eight children (2.6%) were classified as moderately or sever ely affected. Boys were in the majority. Compared with the findings in European and American studies, congenital eye diseases and severe men tal retardation were common while atopic diseases were rare. Consangui nity seemed to be important in the aetiology of chronic diseases. Soci al background factors did not have a substantial impact on the overall prevalence, but psychomotor delay and a sequel to an injury were more common in children from poor families.