[Social inequalities in child health status]

The article describes the health situation in relation to demographic and social class variables in a sample of 1,671 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15 years in Denmark. The proportions assessing their health as excellent, good, fair, or poor were 47%, 39%, 13%, and 1%, respectively. 22% reported daily symptoms and 74% weekly symptoms (20% one symptom a week, 54% two or more symptoms). During one week, 50% suffered from bad moods, 37% insomnia, 30% depression, 26% headaches, 22% nervousness, 19% back pain, 14% abdominal pain, and 12% vertigo. 37% had used medical drugs during the last month, most frequently for headaches (25%), colds (11%), coughs (9%) and abdominal pain (8%). Girls showed poorer self-assessed health than boys, more symptoms and more use of medication. The youngest pupils had the most frequent symptoms and the oldest least. There were no health differences when place of residence or family composition were considered, but there were clear social class differences. Pupils from the lowest social class and pupils whose parents were not included in the social class classification (e.g. disability pensioners) had the poorest self-assessed health, the most frequent symptoms and the highest use of medication.