Parental symptoms and children's use of medicine for headache: data reported by parents from five Nordic countries

TY - JOUR

T1 - Parental symptoms and children's use of medicine for headache

T2 - data reported by parents from five Nordic countries

AU - Andersen, Anette

AU - Holstein, Bjørn Evald

AU - Berntsson, Leeni

AU - Hansen, Ebba Holme

PY - 2012/2

Y1 - 2012/2

N2 - Objectives: To examine the association between parent's headache and symptom load and children's medicine use, and whether these associations are robust across countries and socio-demographic strata. Methods: The study population included random samples of children from age 2 to 17 in five Nordic countries (participation rate 67.6%, n = 10,317). Outcome measure was child's medicine use for headache. Determinants were the mother's and father's headache and symptom load. Analyses were stratified by country, age group and socio-economic status. Results: The prevalence of children's medicine use varied across countries between 13.7 and 21.3%. Girls' medicine use for headache was associated with mother's headache (OR = 2.00), father's headache (OR = 1.85), mother's symptom load (OR = 1.84) and father's symptom load (OR = 1.48). Boys' medicine use was only associated with mothers' headache (OR = 1.68) and symptom load (OR = 1.51). Associations remained significant after adjustment for the child's headache and were robust across countries and socio-demographic strata. Conclusions: Parents' symptom experience seems to influence their children's medicine use over and above medicine use indicated by symptoms. Two potential explanations are suggested: a socialization pathway and/or a pathway through adverse living conditions.

AB - Objectives: To examine the association between parent's headache and symptom load and children's medicine use, and whether these associations are robust across countries and socio-demographic strata. Methods: The study population included random samples of children from age 2 to 17 in five Nordic countries (participation rate 67.6%, n = 10,317). Outcome measure was child's medicine use for headache. Determinants were the mother's and father's headache and symptom load. Analyses were stratified by country, age group and socio-economic status. Results: The prevalence of children's medicine use varied across countries between 13.7 and 21.3%. Girls' medicine use for headache was associated with mother's headache (OR = 2.00), father's headache (OR = 1.85), mother's symptom load (OR = 1.84) and father's symptom load (OR = 1.48). Boys' medicine use was only associated with mothers' headache (OR = 1.68) and symptom load (OR = 1.51). Associations remained significant after adjustment for the child's headache and were robust across countries and socio-demographic strata. Conclusions: Parents' symptom experience seems to influence their children's medicine use over and above medicine use indicated by symptoms. Two potential explanations are suggested: a socialization pathway and/or a pathway through adverse living conditions.

U2 - 10.1007/s00038-011-0284-2

DO - 10.1007/s00038-011-0284-2

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21842220

SN - 1661-8556

VL - 57

SP - 217

EP - 223

JO - International Journal of Public Health (Print Edition)

JF - International Journal of Public Health (Print Edition)

IS - 1

ER -