Between 1986 and 2003, the University of the West Indies (UWI Mona) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) collaborated on a series of Birth Cohort Studies in Jamaica.  The Jamaica Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey (JPMMS) was a national study designed to identify modifiable risk factors associated with poor maternal and perinatal outcome. The primary study included 10,500 births in Jamaica in September and October 1986.  These children were identified at birth and their mothers interviewed.  They were seen again at 6 weeks of age.

The other components to the study included:

• Morbidity study – all newborns admitted to neonatal care September 1986 – February 1987
• Perinatal mortality study – all perinatal deaths (SBs>500g +NNDs to 28 days) from September 1986 – August 1987
• Maternal mortality study – all maternal deaths September 1986 – August 1987
• Health service evaluation – September – October 1986 examining hospital and community services to mothers and babies.

Further follow-up with the cohort took place at ages 11 – 12, 15 – 16 and 20 – 21 years to better understand the factors that impact child development, behaviour and academic achievement in Jamaica’s children. Major funding for the JPMMS was provided by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada.  

Before JA KIDS, these studies were the only comprehensive longitudinal birth cohort study of children in the Caribbean and have had significant impact on policies, programmes and interventions for mothers and children. For example, findings from the initial survey led to the development of clinic-based screening programme for sexually transmitted diseases, implementation of referral high-risk clinics run by obstetricians; establishment of maternal mortality surveillance; interventions to reduce maternal and neonatal illness and death and the redesign and construction of new labour wards at referral hospitals.  Among its numerous findings, the follow-up studies documented inadequate academic achievement among boys despite normal cognitive function, identified the co-existence of under- and over-nutrition in pre-adolescent children, and identified the developmental and behavioural impact of excessive television viewing and inadequate parental supervision and factors associated with aggressive behaviour and violence in children.  These contributed to the development of a television programming code for children, a National Parenting Policy, policies aimed at improving inter-sectoral services to children from birth to 5 years (Early Childhood Commission) and behavioural interventions adopted by the Violence Prevention Alliance (an inter-sectoral NGO) and the Healthy Lifestyles project (MOH). Additionally, the studies have resulted in over seventy (70) publications including forty-three (43) peer-reviewed publications, seven (7) books/chapters in books,  three  (3) technical reports, as well as seven (7) postgraduate theses.