ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of headache and its association with lifestyle among schoolchildren and to test an intervention programme. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of all pupils in the school who were asked to complete a questionnaire about headache and lifestyle factors. SETTING: School health care at an elementary school in Sweden. SUBJECTS: All 344 pupils aged 13-16 years, 170 girls and 174 boys, at senior level answered the questionnaire and were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Headache occurring at least once a week. RESULTS: Twenty-two percent had headache at least once a week. The problem was more common among girls than among boys; OR 1.6 (95%CI 1.3-2.1). In girls, headache was associated with smoking; OR 6.6 (CI 1.2-35.5), going to bed later than 11 p.m.; OR 4.4 (CI 1.1-18.0), headache in parents; OR 2.0 (CI 1.0-4.2), and few sports activities; OR 3.0 (CI 1.2-7.5). The only corresponding association in boys was with smoking; OR 12.0 (CI 1.5-101). Headache improved in pupils participating in the programme. CONCLUSIONS: Headache is a common health problem in schoolchildren of both sexes at senior level and shows strong associations with lifestyle factors in girls. Intervention seems to be efficient.
