UDC 371.711.8:572.51

A. P. Kameneva and L. I. Yagolnik

Experience in Monitoring the Physical Development of General School Pupils

Sumy Regional Sanitary and Epidemiological Station

Physical development is an important indicator of health status. Longitudinal observations conducted in our country make it possible to establish how physical development depends on the population’s sociocultural living conditions and on measures to improve them. Accordingly, since 1966 we have monitored the health and physical development of schoolchildren in the city of Sumy.

The pupils’ physical development was assessed using data from comprehensive examinations and anthropometric measurements. For the assessment conducted in 1966, local standards developed by the regional sanitary and epidemiological station in 1964 and recommended for practical use by the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR were used. In 1977, physical development was assessed using linear charts recommended by the Khar-

…K. Krupskaya Institute of Hygiene of Children and Adolescents in Moscow. The groups studied were comparable in size, and the pupils’ living and schooling conditions were identical. The data obtained showed a relatively high level of physical development among the pupils. Those with average and above-average physical development accounted for 79% of those examined in 1966 and 81% in 1977. Most pupils had average physical development in both 1966 and 1977. However, the proportion with average physical development decreased to 66% of all pupils examined in 1977, from 72% in 1966. The proportion with above-average physical development increased from 7% in 1966 to 15% in 1977, while the proportion with high physical development rose from 2.1% to 5%. The percentage of pupils with below-average physical development changed little: 10% in 1977 and 9.8% in 1966.

Thus, our observations suggest that the processes of acceleration, resulting from improved living conditions, are continuing.

The continuation of these processes requires pediatricians and hygiene specialists to monitor schoolchildren’s physical development carefully and continuously in order to prevent any adverse effects of acceleration on their health in a timely manner.

Received December 28, 1979.