No abstract

SummaryThe blood pressures of young Black and White American schoolchildren were measured and compared with those of Nigerian children of similar ages. Both diastolic and systolic pressures were consistently higher in the Nigerian children than in the Americans, both Black and White. The White children had the lowest pressures at each age. The mean weights and heights at each age were not significantly different in the three groups. Although the blood pressure of African children was higher than that of Black Americans, mean adult pressures are known to be similar in both groups. This suggests that the difference in childhood pressures must be due more to environmental factors than to genetic ones.Abadina School, University of Ibadan campus, Nigeria, was also studied. They were aged 6-14 years.In children aged under 12 blood pressure was measured with a standard mercury manometer using a cuff 9 cm wide. In children aged 12 years and over an adult cuff (13 x 25 cm) was used. The recordings were made in each classroom with the children standing in a queue with an arm extended on a table. The diastolic pressure was taken as that at which muffling of sounds occurred (phase IV) and readings were recorded as the nearest 5 nun gradation below the observed figure. In all cases arterial pressures were measured between 0900 and 1600. Heights, weights, and arm circumference were also recorded.

No abstract

No abstract