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 health and nutritional status in which data were available preceding and following the event. When Hurricane Gilbert struck Jamaica in 1988, a longitudinal study was in progress in which children's weights and heights were recorded every 2 months and their morbidity histories taken every week. The investigation included 127 stunted (low height-for-age) and 32 non-stunted children aged 23-44 months, living in poor areas of Kingston. The data from the 4 months before and after the hurricane were compared. There was an increase in the occurrence of respiratory 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 occurrence of diarrhoea and injuries. Deficits were also found in height gain (P < 0.001) during the same period. These adverse effects were found in spite of the large amount of food aid received and the aggressive health education programme implemented after the hurricane.