MORBIDITY AND PSYCHOSOCIAL REASONS FOR ABSENCE AMONG HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS IN HOLON, ISRAEL

Absence of children from school for either health or social reasons, c an serve as a parameter for general well-being. Minimal school absence rates reflect a good physical and psycho-social status. The present s urvey compares the rate of absenteeism as a result of various diseases among 972 adolescent pupils in a high school. The average absenteeism of a pupil during the year is 8.67 +/- 2.93 days. Medical circumstanc es responsible for absenteeism are discussed. The incidence of absente eism in chronic diseases is 5.5 times greater than that of healthy chi ldren. The ratio of absence caused by medical reasons decreases with m aturity, probably as a result of increasing efficiency in coping with the diseases together with stronger motivation for studies. The school physician cognizant of pupil absenteeism can fulfil a valuable role i n the early recognition and treatment of psychosocial pathologies.