title: Prevalence of headache in schoolchildren: relation to family and school factors.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of recurrent headaches among schoolchildren in Göteborg and the relation of headache to school and family variables. A stratified sample of 1297 pupils was selected to be representative of the Göteborg population. Data were obtained by means of questionnaires. Twenty-six per cent had "headache once a month or more" and 6% had "headache several times a week or daily" (frequent headache). There was a gradual increase of headache with age. In the third grade there was a marked increase of frequent headache. In the highest school level (grades 7-9), girls had significantly more headache than boys. In the lower school level (grades 1-3), a greater number of pupils in the class increases the risk of frequent headache. Pupils in the intermediate school level (grades 4-6) reported more frequent headache in districts with high unemployment. It is concluded that headache among schoolchildren is a health problem which merits increased attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carlsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health