Adverse factors affecting growth of schoolchildren in St. Helena

Abstract

More than 1000 schoolchildren on St. Helena were studied to determine factors associated with suboptimal growth. Disease was demonstrable in only a small minority, but social factors were of prime importance. In particular, family size was found to be a dominant factor, over-riding the associated effect from overcrowding. The implications of this finding are discussed, and the concept of a 'threshold of coping' developed. It is suggested that failure to achieve optimal growth may be a particularly useful index of the points of stress in the child-rearing patterns of society.