Citation

Ramphele MA, Heap M, Trollip DK. S. Afr. Med. J. 1995; 85(10): 1007-1012.

Affiliation

University of Cape Town.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, South African Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8596963

Abstract

Although adolescence is most commonly associated with risk-taking behaviour, mortality due to poverty-related conditions is high among black African children aged 10-14 years. This paper describes a study carried out in October 1991 to assess the physical health status of 860 underprivileged pupils aged 10-14 years in Standards 3-5 at three schools in New Crossroads, near Cape Town. Data on nutritional status, age at menarche, blood pressure, eyesight, physical abnormalities, injuries and use of hospitals were obtained. The response rate was 90%. Of all the children, 7.2% were below the 5th percentile weight-for-age. The proportion of boys (13.1%) below the 5th percentile weight-for-age was significantly higher than that of girls (3.7%). Of all the children, 19.5% were below the 5th percentile height-for-age. The proportion of boys (24.4%) below the 5th percentile height-for-age was also significantly higher than that of girls (16.7%). The average age at menarche was 13 years, similar to that (12.8 years) reported for the UK. In 5% of the children, the diastolic blood pressure was > 90 mmHg and the findings show some increase with age. Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital accounted for 30.9% of hospital attendances. 'Chest' complaints (19.5%) were frequent reasons for consultations, while 15.2% of the children reported being injured, with car accidents (16.0%), fractures (27.5%) and burns (20.6%) being the most common injuries. It is suggested that the provision of a 24-hour day hospital will ease the load on the referral hospital, i.e. Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Language: en