Prevention of secondary cases of meningococcal disease in Denmark.

Close contacts of cases of meningococcal disease are at increased risk of disease themselves. We identified household-like contacts of index cases, to investigate whether relevant target groups are informed, receive and follow recommended chemoprophylaxis and vaccination, and to ascertain the time delay for implementation of these measures. A telephone interview of 172 households of index cases and a questionnaire survey among 634 parents of contacts of cases in institutions were carried out. Results were compared with reports from Medical Officers of Health. In 21% of the cases, Medical Officers reported fewer household-like contacts than were identified in this study. Written information was effective. However, 59% of households, and 36% of parents of contacts in institutions felt a lack of information about how the disease is acquired, the risk and signs of illness. For household-like contacts the coverage rate for chemoprophylaxis with an appropriate drug was 90% and for vaccination 59%. No secondary cases occurred among those treated with chemoprophylaxis, but among those not treated, there were two secondary cases. The study design provided a useful audit methodology to evaluate the completeness of implementation and the success of prophylactic measures for meningococcal disease.

Dietary knowledge and behaviour among schoolchildren in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In 1989, 674 schoolchildren aged 12-14 years in nine elementary schools in a municipality in Copenhagen, Denmark, answered a questionnaire about their dietary habits and knowledge. The majority of the pupils had fruit (87%), vegetables (72%), rye bread (81%), and drank fat-reduced milk (73%) every day. A diet score (reliability = 0.58) was calculated on the basis of the intake of 8 food items relevant to current dietary recommendations. There were no age and sex differences as to dietary habits, but immigrant children had a lower diet score than native children. Dietary knowledge was measured by the ability to state correctly whether 11 different food items had a high content or not of fat, sugar or dietary fibres. Dietary knowledge was highest for questions about fat and sugar. A knowledge score measured the number of correct answers to all 33 questions (reliability = 0.90). Knowledge was highest among older children, native children, and children with the most healthy dietary habits. In the multivariate regression analysis, knowledge, health attitudes and ethnicity were the only significant predictors of dietary behaviour. It is concluded that both social and personal factors are important for dietary behaviour, and health promotion in children should include other methods than educational programmes.

[Life style of schoolchildren in Frederiksberg]. / Frederiksbergske skoleelevers livsstil.

In 1989, a total of 674 pupils in the sixth and eighth grades in nine municipal schools in the Municipality of Frederiksberg replied to a questionnaire containing questions about health knowledge and behaviour. The behaviour of the pupils as regards tobacco, alcohol, diet, exercise, sleep, traffic, employment of medicine and general health were compared. In the sixth grade, 16% of the pupils and 48% of the pupils in the eighth grade had somewhat unsuitable behaviour as regards more than three of the above mentioned factors. In particular, girls in the eighth grade showed less suitable behaviour in several fields: many of these drank alcohol and smoked tobacco. In the eighth grade, several of the pupils had less suitable behaviour in the traffic than pupils in the sixth class. In addition, it was noted that over half of the pupils in both the grades involved had taken medicine within the past month. The majority of this medicine was for headaches. On the basis of these findings, the Medical Officers of Health for the Municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg have compiled a report in which they recommend that the schools under the local authority provide prophylactic measures against consumption of alcohol and tobacco and that these measures should be directed towards the girls, that the high consumption of medicine should be investigated further, that traffic drill for the older pupils should be considered and that prophylaxis of accidents during athletics both in schools and sports clubs should be included.

[The behavior of schoolchildren in traffic in the municipality of Frederiksberg]. / Skoleelevers faerden i trafikken i Frederiksberg Kommune.

A questionnaire investigation was undertaken among pupils in the sixth and eighth grades in the Municipality of Frederiksberg. In this they were questioned about their behaviour in traffic and whether they had been involved in traffic accidents. One fourth of the pupils in the sixth grade stated that they had been involved in a traffic accident and 38% of these had resulted in contact with the health services in the form of admission to hospital, contact with the casualty department or the general practitioner. In the eighth grade, one third of the pupils stated that they had been involved in a traffic accident and 28% of these had resulted in contact with the health services. Equal numbers of pupils frequently disobeyed the highway code concerning a number of instances, pupils who frequently disobeyed one or two traffic rules and pupils who rarely or never disobeyed traffic rules. A connection was observed between frequent disobedience to traffic rules and involvement in traffic accidents. The number of pupils who frequently disobey traffic rules was shown to increase between the sixth and eighth grades. It is therefore considered suitable to continue traffic drill in the older classes. The pupils' attitudes to use of bicycle helmets appeared to be dominated by the fact that bicycle helmets constitute a cosmetic problem.

[Danish exercise habits in the 1980's. Attitude and behavior in relation to prevention of cardiovascular disease]. / Danske motionsvaner i 1980'erne. Holdning og adfaerd i relation til forebyggelse af hjerte-kar-sygdomme.

The results concerning exercise habits from four Danish health investigations among school pupils in the sixth and eight forms in the Municipality of Frederiksberg, adults aged 20-65 years in the County of Vejle and in Glostrup and the surrounding district and persons aged 70-75 years in the County of Roskilde, respectively, are compared. 70-80% of the Danish population take part in sports in their leisure time. Men of all ages take part in more strenuous exercise than women. The physically most active are those who have the best education and who live in their own houses. In the course of the nineteen eighties, the population has become more aware of the significance of exercise for cardiovascular disease. Similarly, during the same period, the proportion who take part in exercise has apparently increased by approximately 15%. The attitude that exercise is of significance for cardiovascular disease was connected with personal participation in sport. The knowledge that too little exercise constituted a risk factor for cardiovascular disease was increasingly realised although the connection was not definite. The social differences in exercise habits may be an explanation of the corresponding differences which have been observed in several western countries during the past decades in the mortality from cardiovascular disease.

[Food habits and knowledge among Frederiksberg schoolchildren]. / Frederiksbergske skoleelevers kostvaner og -viden.

In 1989, 674 school pupils in the sixth and eight grades in nine elementary schools replied to a questionnaire with questions about dietary habits and knowledge. More than 70% of the pupils preferred skim-milk products to full milk. Half of the pupils always used butter or margarine on bread. The main reason for using some form of fat on the bread was that, without this, the bread would become too dry. Approximately 75% of the pupils ate brown bread, fresh fruit and vegetables daily. These same pupils had "healthy" dietary habits in many respects. 75% of the pupils avoided one or more types of food because they considered that these were not good for them. The item most frequently avoided was fat meat. 83% of the pupils included some foodstuffs in the diet because they considered that these were good for them. The items most frequently involved were fruit and vegetables. The sex and age differences between the actual diet and the ideal diet were insignificant. More than half of the pupils could state correctly whether 11 different foodstuffs contained much fat, sugar or dietary fiber. No connection was found between the pupils' dietary knowledge and their actual or ideal diets. It is thus probable that dietary advice which emphasizes foodstuffs e.g. eat more dietary fiber, is difficult for them to understand and live up to. More definite dietary information e.g. eat more vegetables, would probably have been easier for the pupils to understand and live up to. School pupils of today are very much aware of the significance of diet for their health.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Smoking and alcohol drinking habits among school children in the Frederiksberg community]. / Tobaks- og alkoholvaner blandt skolebørn i Frederiksberg Kommune.

In 1989, a total of 674 pupils in the sixth and eighth grades of nine elementary schools in the Municipality of Frederiksberg replied to a questionnaire which included questions about their habits and attitudes concerning smoking and alcohol. 50% of the girls in the eighth grade smoke, 30% of these daily. Compared with previous investigations, these results support the general impression that the frequency of smoking in girls is increasing. Compared with previous investigations, the frequencies of smoking in boys show a decreasing tendency: 24% of the boys in the eighth grade are smokers and 12% smoke daily. Great agreement was expressed with the negative assertion about smoking and 98% were aware that smoking was dangerous. The commonest reasons given for smoking were that it is a sociable habit, is relaxing and tastes good. Evidence was found that the advantages of smoking should be utilized in anti-smoking campaigns and the disadvantages should be emphasized and that campaigns should be directed to teenage girls. Girls in the eighth grade also drink alcohol more frequently than boys do. 62% of the pupils who had a monthly alcohol intake considered that alcohol was dangerous. A definite connection was found between the consumptions of tobacco and alcohol. No connection was found between active efforts to be healthy and not to smoke or drink. Girls living with a single father employed tobacco and alcohol more frequently.