Elsevier

Journal of Adolescence

Volume 21, Issue 1, February 1998, Pages 109-122
Journal of Adolescence

Regular Article
School performance in adolescent Jamaican girls: associations with health, social and behavioural characteristics, and risk factors for dropout

https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.1997.0133Get rights and content

Abstract

Health, nutrition and behavioural determinants of school achievement, attendance and dropout were examined in 452 girls aged 13–14 years, randomly selected from grade 8 in nine schools in inner-city Kingston, Jamaica. Girls who were anaemic, sexually active or aggressive had worse achievement levels. Better achievement levels were associated with possession of school materials and access to reading material outside of school. Poor attendance, early sexual activity, and not living with both parents predicted school dropout in the subsequent year. Strategies to reduce anaemia, to improve sex education and reduce the levels of aggression may benefit school performance.

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Reprint request and correspondence should be addressed to Susan Walker, Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.

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