[Inequalities in access to preventive health care for school children]

Access to health care, including preventive health care for pupils affects the health of society. Equal access to pupils'preventive health care means the same level of preventive services for all children and adolescents regardless of school type, place and region of domicile.

To analyse the quality of preventive health care for pupils in school year 2007/2008 in all school types in Poland, giving special attention to inequalities and access of this healthcare.

Reports from national public statistics filled by school nurses regarding preventive healthcare for pupils were analysed. Special attention was given to inequalites in access to

Disparities in access to preventive health care were observed. They affected more often pupils from rural schools, basic vocational schools and special schools. As a result, 60% rural elementary schools did not have a school health office. School nurses working in these schools were overburdened, each of them had to look after excessive number of pupils. Nearly one-quarter of basic vocational school pupils didn't have periodic check-up. Pupils from these schools less frequently participated in health education conducted by school nurses compared with pupils from other school types. In special schools school nurses were overburdened. One school nurse from these schools had to look after above limit of pupils' number (above 25% in urban and above 75% in rural schools).

1. Inequalities in access to preventive health care affected pupils from rural, basic vocational schools and special schools. They reflected existing social disparities in Poland. 2. Inequalities exist mainly in the social groups, who are at risk of social exclusion. 3. Equal opportunity for pupils'preventive health care requires systemic solutions in health and educational cooperation at government level.