Adolescents' use of health services in Alexandria, Egypt: association with mental health problems.
The study assessed patterns of health service use by adolescents and the association with mental health problems in Alexandria, Egypt. A systematic stratified random sample of 1577 school students aged 14-19 years completed a self-report questionnaire about demographic and health status, use of health services in the previous year, and the Children's Depression Inventory and the Adolescent Self-Report Aggression Scale. Overall, 97.1% of students reported using school health clinics once or more in the year before the study, 93.7% primary health centres, 16.8% mental health services and 13.6% other health services. A history of organic illness in the previous year (OR = 1.80), having depressive symptoms (OR = 2.93) and having aggressive symptoms (OR = 5.53) were significantly associated with frequent use of health services (> or = 4 visits/year).
Afifi
M
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Directorate of Research and Studies, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health