A psychiatric study of 197 children (aged 3-15 yrs) living in villages outside Khartoum was made in 1964-1965. In 1983, 104 randomly chosen Ss (aged 22-35 yrs) were investigated again. All were interviewed by a psychiatrist and somatically examined. 14% were found to evidence overall psychiatric impairment according to the psychiatric interview; a self-rating questionnaire gave a higher figure (28%). The rate of somatic illness was similar. Childhood data predicted 17% of the variance in adult mental health. Somatic state of health in childhood and traditional type of work by the father were the most important variables. Data from Ss' life situations explained 67% of the variance in adult mental health.