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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 1983 29(4):201-205; doi:10.1093/tropej/29.4.201
© 1983 by Oxford University Press
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The Tonga 1973 Children Study: Design, Demographic Aspect and Disease Prevalence

SITALEKI A. FINAU, MB, BS, D.Com, H., MRC Training Fellow in Epidemiology, Epidemiology Unit*, IAN A. M. PRIOR, MD, FRCP, FRACP, Director, Epidemiology Unit*, PETER N. LESLIE, MB, ChB, FRCP, FRACP, Cardiology Department* and TAANI PIFELETI, MB, BS, D.Obst, FRACGP

* Wellington Hospital, Wellington Wellington
Singleton District Hospital Singleton New South Wales, Australia

In 1973, a population based study was conducted among Polynesian children (5–19) at Nuku'alofa (urban) and Foa Island (rural), Kingdom on Tonga, to verify an impression that cardiac disease among children was a major problem and that a variety of health problems would be more prevalent in the rural areas. The participation rate was 93.4 per cent and 99.5 per cent in Nuku'alofa and Foa respectively. Demographic data showed similar sex distribution but a younger Foa sample. The Nuku'alofa sample had significantly more subjects born outside their place of residence.

This study demonstrated a total age-standardized prevalence rate of 1.11 per cent for cardiac disease due to congenital heart disease (0.66 per cent), rheumatic heart disease (0.28 per cent) and cardiomyopathy (0.17 per cent). There was no urbanrural difference. The children in Nuku'alofa (24.16 per cent) had more dental problems than Foa children (15.56 per cent). Skin diseases were more prevalent among Foa children.

It is suggested that the priority of studies of the Pacific ‘natural experiments’ is the collection and analysis of data for health service planning based on questions of importance to the community.


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