Total Consumption of Health Services by Schoolchildren in a Primary Health Care District in Southern Sweden: A Contemporary Registration of Consumption at the School Health Clinic,the Community Care Centre and the Hospital

Abstract

During one year all consumption of health services by 1147 schóolchildren aged 7–16 years was recorded. The average frequency of visits per child and year was 5.3 to the School Health Clinic, 1.1 to the Community Care Centre and 0.9 to the ambulatories at the hospital. The rate of hospitalization was 0.05. The consultations at the School Health Clinic show a peak in frequency at 13 years of age and girls predominated. In 40% of the visits to the school nurse no somatic disease corresponding to the complaint could be found and the nurse was clearly being used as a resort by the children in any sort of trouble. Injuries and accidents were the predominant diagnoses in both in-and outpatient care. The high consumption of and need for health services of schoolchildren must be taken into consideration in the overall planning. The School Health Clinic plays an important role for the children and its contributions are underestimated. Apart from health surveillance, it provides medical care for many children, but above all support. The key person is the school nurse and she is best placed in the school even if school health services are in future to be integrated in the Health Services of the County Council at the Community Care Centre (15).