Prevalence of recurrent complaints of pain among Greek schoolchildren and associated factors: A population-based study

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 95; no. 8; pp. 947 - 951
• Main Authors: Bakoula, Chryssa, Kapi, Aikaterini, Veltsista, Alexandra, Kavadias, George, Kolaitis, Gerasimos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2006; Blackwell
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Children; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; General aspects; Greece - epidemiology; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Life Style; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Pain - epidemiology; Pain - psychology; Prevalence; psychosocial factors; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Recurrence; recurrent complaints of pain; Residence Characteristics; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Socioeconomic Factors; Greece; Europe; Human; Pediatrics; Relapse; Prevalence; Recurrent; Psychosocial factor; Epidemiology; School age; Pain; psychosocial factors; Risk factor; Population; Children; Child; recurrent complaints of pain; Public health
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1080/08035250600684453

Aim: To determine the prevalence of recurrent complaints of pain (RCP) in Greek children, and to examine associations with socio‐demographic characteristics and psychosocial factors. Methods: Cross‐sectional study comprising a nationally representative population of 8130 7‐y‐old Greek schoolchildren. Data were collected by mailed questionnaires (response rate 89%). RCP was defined as present if at least one of the complaints of headache, abdominal pain or limb pain occurred at least once a week. Results: The RCP prevalence rate was 7.2%, with significant gender differences (8.8% of girls, 5.7% of boys; p<0.001). RCP was significantly positively associated with a chronic health problem among the children, frequent change of residence, poor school performance, often watching TV and rarely playing with other children. There were no statistically significant associations of RCP with family structure and socio‐economic status. Conclusion: The results are indicative of the prevalence of RCP in Greek schoolchildren. This study enlightens the psychosocial component of RCP and emphasizes the importance of gathering information on children's social background in medical settings.