Self-reported health and use of medicines among school children
Holstein, B.E.; Ito, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 149(5): 311-314
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3824609 Document Number: 294526
A nationwide sample of 682 children aged 11-15 years answered questionnaires regarding health, health behaviour, lifestyle, and social situation. The study is the Danish contribution to the WHO international research project on health behaviour in school children. This article reports data on three health indicators: perceived health status (PHS), symptom experience, and use of medicine. PHS was excellent in 46% of the children, good, fair and poor in 39%, 14% and 2%. Girls had poorer PHS than boys and children from the municipality of Copenhagen poorer than children living elsewhere. The proportion having experienced symptoms at least once a week was: headache 30%, stomach pain 16%, back pain 17%, feeling blue/sad 31%, bad mood 48%, nervousness 21%, difficulties in falling asleep 34% and dizziness 12%. A total of 22% had experienced symptoms daily during the last six months. Symptoms were more frequent in girls, in lower social class, and in single-parent families. More than half the pupils (53%) had used medicine during the last month, most frequently for headaches (34%), cough (16%), colds (14%) and stomach pain (9%) and less frequently tranquilizers (2%). The use of medicine was more frequent in lower social class, in urban areas, and in older pupils more frequent among girls. The three indicators of health problems were extremely well associated. It is concluded that discomfort is a widespread phenomenon in children aged 11-15.