Knowledge of upper respiratory tract infection in elementary school children

Children often acquire health and disease information from their parents; and, as a rule, parents of a higher socioeconomic status are often better educated than those of lower socioeconomic status. This study assessed children's knowledge of upper respiratory tract infection and correlated the level of knowledge with socioeconomic status, ethnic background and frequency of school absences. Twenty-two true-false questions were give to 331 elementary school children in grades two, four and six. Two schools were chosen because of differences in socioeconomic status of the prospective neighborhoods. The questionnaire was administered orally by one examiner while the children completed their own answer sheet. The higher socioeconomic status (SES) school had a correct mean score of 14.39, whereas the lower SES school had a mean score of 13.53. The mean correct score increased with grade level. White children had a mean correct score of 14.37, whereas non-white children had a mean correct score of 12.81. The mean correct score did not differ by sex. There was no correlation between mean correct score when compared to the students' claim of days missed from school because of upper respiratory infection. Students from both elementary schools appeared to have a general knowledge of etiology, symptoms, treatment and prevention of upper respiratory tract infection.