title: Prevalence of recurrent complaints of pain among Greek schoolchildren and associated factors: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Paediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chryssa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bakoula
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapi
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veltsista
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kavadias
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolaitis
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors