Settlement typology and infant malnutrition in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

This report has attempted to relate settlement typology to infant malnutrition in Jamaica. During the summer of 1967, field work was undertaken in two western parishes of the island. Numerous clinics of the Ministry of Health were visited and interviews conducted with clinic staffs and local residents. With a geographer's eye, the landscape was examined in relation to population distribution and movement, land-use, topography, child care practices and general life style. The mapping of deaths attributed to PCM and related causes in the age group 1-4 years shows striking correlation with specific population agglomerations. The probability factors associated with PCM occurs in four distinct patterns associated with urben, plantation, remote village and town-small holding settlements. There seems to be a greater similarity in behaviour, and hence greater similarity in disease pattern, between certain of these settlements. Urban and plantation areas are more alike, as are remote village and town-small holdings. As an area begins exhibiting behaviour similar to urban-plantation settlements, there is a probability of PCM increase. There seems to be some predictive capability of showing PMC incidence by examining probability factors. (AU)