2 research outputs found
Measuring morbidity of children in the community: a comparison of interview and diary data
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the validity of estimates of morbidity
experienced at home. METHODS: In the Dutch National Survey of Morbidity
and Interventions in General Practice mothers of 1630 children answered a
health interview and kept a health diary for 3 weeks (only the first 2
weeks were used). Children's symptoms were recorded during the interview
using a check list and monitored in the health diary through open-ended
questions. RESULTS: In the interview parents reported symptoms for 65% of
their children and in the diary for 54% of children. Ear problems, colds,
fever and weakness and anxiety were reported more often in the interview.
Mother's mental health was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire;
those scoring >4 were assessed as having impaired mental health and these
parents reported symptoms for more children in the interview (81%) than in
the diary (65%). For similar reference periods, the least educated mothers
reported fewer children with symptoms in the diary (45%) than in the
interview (66%). More highly educated mothers reported similarly in the
diary (67%) and the interview (70%). CONCLUSION: Both data collection
methods yield different estimates of community morbidity. Explanations
such as telescoping, the seriousness of the symptoms, the amount of
psychological distress of the respondent, forgetfulness and literacy
limitations are discussed. We recommend that diaries should not be used in
less educated populations
Differences in overweight and obesity among children from migrant and native origin
A cross-sectional survey was performed to examine to what degree differences in overweight and obesity between native Dutch and migrant primary school children could be explained by differences in physical activity, dietary intake, and sleep duration among these children. Subjects (n=1943) were primary school children around the age of 8-9 years old and their p