Morbidity and psycho-social reasons for absence among high school students in Holon, Israel

Absence of children from school for either health or social reasons, can serve as a parameter for general well-being. Minimal school absence rates reflect a good physical and psycho-social status. The present survey compares the rate of absenteeism as a result of various diseases among 972 adolescent pupils in a high school. The average absenteeism of a pupil during the year is 8.67 +/- 2.93 days. Medical circumstances responsible for absenteeism are discussed. The incidence of absenteeism in chronic diseases is 5.5 times greater than that of healthy children. The ratio of absence caused by medical reasons decreases with maturity, probably as a result of increasing efficiency in coping with the diseases together with stronger motivation for studies. The school physician cognizant of pupil absenteeism can fulfil a valuable role in the early recognition and treatment of psychosocial pathologies.