Comparative Study of Health Related Behaviours and Habits among School Children of Two Areas of Córdoba

Abstract

The results of two cross-scctional survcys are describcd and comparcd; the purposc of thesc two studics was to know certain health habits among the children population from two areas of different socio-economical and cultural characteristics: a rural (Z.R.) onc an another urban onc (Z.U.). With this purpose. a questionnaire was passed to a representative sample of school pupils belonging tu 5th and 8th school years of E.G.B. (General Basic Education) of these two areas (n =205; n = 231, alfa = 0,05: precision = 0,025; p = P = 0.5). The interviews where self administered by the pupils, in class time, during the month of june of 1988 in the Z.R. (rural area) and during the month of october of 1989 in the Z.U. (urban area). The cuestionaire collected quantitative data on phisical activity. kind of diet, hygiene, observed morbidity. alcohol, tobacco and medicament consumption and school pupils social integration. Finally, the importance to health of socio-cultural factors is pointed out. as well as the necessity of studying the population health behaviours and habits in order to develop Health Promotion politics at the level of Primary Health Care.