Jacqueline P Landman

Thiamin status in normal and malnourished children in Jamaica

Thiamin status has been measured using the erythrocyte transketolase (EC 2.2.1.1) assay in twenty-eight normal children and in twenty-five severely-malnourished children throughout the course of recovery. Subclinical thiamin deficiency was found in 7% of the normal children and 36% of the malnourished children on admission. There was no significant association between thiamin status and oedema, stunting or wasting, history of breast-feeding, pattern of weaning, age or sex. Five malnourished children, who died, all had a normal thiamin status on admission; however, two developed biochemical evidence of thiamin deficiency preterminally.

The dietary habits and knowledge of folklore of pregnant Jamaican women

Dietary changes associated with pregnancy, cravings and knowledge of traditional folklore were explored in their socio‐economic context in 125 pregnant Jamaican women of mixed parity and social class attending an urban clinic. Most women reported dietary changes, expressing increased preferences for fluids, notably water and milk. Aversions to meat or staples were common. Cravings, especially for ice and salt/salty foods, were mentioned but pica was rare. Numerous traditional dietary customs concerning prevention of malformations, birthmarks and foetal death and facilitation of delivery, were reported. Unusual cravings and knowledge of the traditional folklore of pregnancy were significantly associated with lower socioeconomic status. The results are in keeping with a society in transition, and reflect persistence of traditional folklore with some acquisition of modern ideas.

Child-Rearing Practices in Kingston, Jamaica

Child-rearing practices influence patterns of child development, so before planning educational and social services for young children, it is important to take into account normal cultural patterns. Little information is available on child-rearing practices in Jamaica, particularly in relation to very young children. In her now classic work, Clarke (1972) described the social background and family structure of rural Jamaica in the 1940s but made only fleeting reference to young children, stressing the important role played by grandmothers in child-rearing and the relatively small involvement of fathers. Kerr (1963) paid more attention to the older child and suggested a somewhat deprived environment: children being described as having no toys, no opportunities to manipulate materials nor to develop creativity. They were reported as doing heavy household chores at an early age and being subjected to authoritarian discipline. However, in both studies, the data concerning child-rearing were far from comprehensive and did not include Kingston, the largest city in Jamaica. During the course of two separate studies the same questionnaire, designed to document child-rearing habits and attitudes, was administered to mothers in low-income suburban areas of Kingston. In this report, we have combined information from both sources to obtain a more comprehensive picture of child-rearing in Kingston. It should be emphasized that this study was planned to be purely descriptive and not evaluative.