A pilot study of an evidence-based intervention to prevent child behaviour problems was conducted in Jamaican basic schools. Benefits of intervention were found in children’s conduct problems, hyperactivity and peer problems and in the quality of teacher-parent contacts.

Research in child development at the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, Jamaica, has expanded from development of severely malnourished children, to undernourished and other disadvantaged children as well as school-aged children. This extensive work has provided increasing evidence of the importance of early childhood development and informed the work and policies of international agencies.