[Health status and morbidity perceived by a group of school children].

OBJECTIVES

To find what self-perception of their health (SPH) and of their morbidity by school-children; and to analyse possible differences, in function of their social and demographic characteristics and life-styles.

DESIGN

An observational crossover study, using a health questionnaire.

SETTING

Community.

PARTICIPANTS

548 6th and 8th grade (EGB) children in the Occidente Health Area, Córdoba.

INTERVENTIONS: Self-filled health questionnaire.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

43.7% of students felt very healthy. Bad SPH was independently associated with being a girl, poor state of physical fitness and feeling unhappy. Tiredness and nervousness were the most frequent disorders suffered by school-children.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the SPH of the school-children was acceptable, we found high perceived morbidity and prevalence of accidents, along with a striking consumption of medication.