Health Education Journal

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REPORT OF AN INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON EDUCATION IN

HEALTH AND NUTRITION (F.A.O. Nutrition Meetings Report Series
No. 13), by F. W. Clements. (Food and Agriculture Organization. 1956.
Pp. 91. Price 5s.)
J.B. Loudon
Health Education Journal 1957; 15; 209
DOI: 10.1177/001789695701500323

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 DEMOGRAPHIC YEARBOOK
(United Nations. Pp. 781. Price 50s.
paperbound, 60s. clothbound, from
H.M. Stationery Office.)
This is the seventh issue of the most
comprehensive and ambitious statistical
survey in the world. As in previous
editions, concentration has been on a
particular theme-in this case world
<
population. The bulk of the volume is
devoted to tables of population classi-
fied according to country, sex and age.
There are also tables of the number
of births, deaths and stillbirths.
International marriage rates and life
tables -altow the reader to study trends
in different countries and regions.
We have now become accustomed to
looking forward with interest to the
annual appearance of this massive
-
volume which is full of interest to all
who are concerned with problems of
health and population.
A. J. DALZELL-WARD.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES,
by D. H. GeZen, L. Farrer-Brown
and M. D. Warren. (Edward
Arnold Ltd. 1957. Pp. 160.
Price 9s.)
The growth of a welfare state produces
an increase in the number of health and
social services, and it becomes more and
more difficulty to obtain a clear picture
of the- various facilities which are
provided.
This little book, which was originally
written for midwives, has now been
extended to include most of the personal
health services. Within its limitations
it is a very useful guide : at a glance one
can obtain a clear outline of the various
branches of the services. Many
students will therefore welcome a
simple approach to public health, social
services and the control and prevention
of infectious diseases. For those who
require more detailed information the
larger text books will have to be
consulted, but for an elementary
approach and as a useful reference book
it fully achieves its purpose.
There is a handy list of addresses of
voluntary organisations in the appendix,
from whom further information and
help can be obtained. The book can be
recommended as a simple comprehensive
outline of our extensive health and social
services.
S. LEFF.
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1955. REPORT OF ANINTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
ON EDUCATION IN HEALTH AND
NUTRITION (F.A.O. Nutrition
Meetings Report Series No. 13),
by F. W. Clements. (Food and
Agriculture Organization. 1956.
Pp. 91. Price 5s.)
In October, 1955, a seminar was held
at Baguio in the Philippines, under the
joint sponsorship of F.A.O. and
W.H.O., to discuss health education
with particular reference to nutrition
problems. Most of the seventy-nine
participants were professional health
workers drawn from countries in the
Far East and the Pacifcc ; the remainder
were specialists of various kinds
attending as observers or as participating
start. This report is the work of one
of the latter and is unusual in that it is
not just a collection of papers
presented, each followed by a summary
of discussion ; instead, it is one man’s
attempt &dquo; to record progressively the
thinking and reactions of a group of
people brought togeiher .... to
discuss common problems &dquo;, presented
in such a way that &dquo; the spirit of the
seminar would be as clearly revealed
as the subjects discussed &dquo;
About one quarter of this publication
is of some general use and interest to
health workers. Those sections in
which the aims and results of the
seminar are summarised make it clear
that much of what went on could with
advantage have been reported more
extensively. In particular, the chapter
entitled Learning about People, though
confined to a mere six pages, emphasises
the importance for the health worker of
some understanding of the social
structure and organisation of the
community with which he is concerned.
That this was recognised by the
seminar is shown by the presence
among the participating staff of three
social anthropologists with considerable
field experience both in nutrition
problems and in the regions from which
most of the members came.
The remainder of this report is of
little significance to anyone who was
not at Baguio. Virtually half is taken
up with an account of the mechanics
of the seminar, with the stated aim of
assisting &dquo; those planning seminars
along similar lines in the future &dquo;. It
seems improbable that this aim will be
realised. The writer shows himself to
be unequal to the difficulty self-imposed
task of revealing the &dquo; spirit of the
seminar&dquo;. What emerges from his
209
diffuse and confused account does not too. A disappointing thing about this
appear to have been a model upon Report is that most of the contributions
which future seminars could usefully be were from administrators, and those
based. The chapters which deal with with specialised knowledge of the causes
health education add nothing to what seem to have had little to say, or else
has been said many times before, while what they did say has been poorly
the chapter on the evaluation of health reported. Nevertheless, the Report
education measures is too limited in should be read by anyone who wishes
scope to be useful to the naive and too to be abreast of the times in thinking
naive to be useful to anyone else. about the vast social problem of adult
This may be due to the method of crime and juvenile delinquency.
reporting ; if so, the method does not ALFRED TORRIE.
appear to be one which can be
recommended to future seminars.
J. B. LOUDON.
MANKIND AGAINST THE KILLERS, by
James Hemming (Longmans,
FIRST UNITED NATIONS CONGRESS ON Green and Co. 1956. Pp. 231.
THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE Price 15s.)
TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS. The author of this stimulating book
(United Nations. 1956. Pp. 103. is already an established writer.
He
Price 9s.) was a school teacher, and he has
now
When the present Home Secretary added a most useful book to the
announced measures for prison reform library shelf-one for any school
recently, he received praise from all library for, if placed in a primary
quarters. The new proposals, however, school, it should be read by the staff.
fall short of many in this Report from Mr. Hemming’s survey is vast, but
the United Nations. In this compre- it is treated in a simple, logical and
hensive volume, minimum standards colourful way, and it is delightful to
are laid down for the management of read an up-to-date synthesis on the
penal and correctional institutions for subject of research and achievement in
prison labour, remuneration, etc. The world-wide preventive’ and curative
employment of prisoners after release is medicine. The photographs are
dealt with and is a great advance on excellent, but not placed near the text.
anything hitherto attempted. The line illustrations are apt, but ill
A disappointing feature is the some- designed.
what reactionary attitude to suggestions If Mr. Hemming were a biologist,
for reform exhibited by some of the perhaps he would be more precise in
British delegates. For instance, a his use of some phrases. &dquo; Man first
suggestion that prison governors should appeared on earth.&dquo; One might ask,
have previous experience was opposed then, which wind blew- him. And,
&dquo;
by Britain, and one presumes that the Nuclear power, ultimate source of
practice of appointing retired oflicers physical energy.&dquo; Is it, can’he prove
from the Services will continue in this it ’1? To children these and - other
country. The introduction of psycho- statements will be misleading.
logical examination for every prisoner Buy or borrow this book, if you wish
was also vetoed, as was the suggestion to read a most modem and exciting
that all staff should be offered an story of a world struggle and man’s
opportunity to attend more advanced magnificent accomplishment.
courses in psychology. Fortunately D. L. PORTER.
the proposal by the British delegate to
delete the recommendation was rejected
by a large majority.
The most interesting part of the FOOD AND FITNESS. The Importance
Report is that dealing with delinquency. of Balanced Meals. (Chart
The delegates from various parts of the published by Educational Produc-
world gave widely differing views on tions, for Marmite Ltd. Size
the prevention . and treatment of 2 in. x 29 in. Price 1/-.)
/
1
19
delinquency. One gathers after pro- This is an attractive chart designed to
longed discussion that the whole subject help children understand the various
requires much deeper study, and that nutrients necessary for a balanced diet,
the causes .vary in different cultures and and includes a typical day’s menu. ..
consequently the treatment must vary, E. PARRY.
210
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