Regular school attendance is an important factor in the child's success.The issue of absenteeism is complex, and covers a wide range of behaviours, including chronic absenteeism, school refusal and truancy. Absenteeism has major impact on learning.Thereis extreme paucity of literature comprehensively assessing the child and factors leading to school absenteeism and how absenteeism affects academic achievement has not yet been elucidated. This study was done to find the various medical and non-medical causes responsible for school absenteeism and to see the various effects of school absenteeism on the child.

This research recieved the Dr. James Flett Endowment Award -Gold Medal from Indian Academy Of Pediatrics. Its authoredby Dr. Preena Uppal, MD Pediatrics, Dr Premila Paul , MD Associate Professor of Paediatrics , Safdarjang Hospital andVMMCollege and Dr V. Sreenivas MSc, PhD. FRSS( UK), AdditionalProfessor of Biostatistics , AIIMS .