Self-Perceived Health Status of School-Age Children: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Assessment of children's health status creates means that may promote their health. This study aimed to investigate the self-perceived health status of school-age children in Jordan.

METHODS

The study employed a descriptive and cross-sectional design. Children were recruited from two settings: schools and hospitals. Convenient sampling was used to include eligible children. Children reported their health status using the Child Health and Illness Profile-Child Edition. Data from the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

The satisfaction subscale (i.e., satisfaction with oneself and health) has the highest mean (M = 87.7), followed by the achievement (M = 86) subscale that reflects appropriate role functioning in school and with peers, while the comfort subscale (i.e., the experience of physical and emotional symptoms) has the lowest mean (M = 78.8). Girls reported significantly higher scores in the achievement and risk avoidance domains than boys. Achievement and resilience were significantly higher among 10- and 11-year-old children than among 9-year-old children. Additionally, the risk avoidance domain was higher among children aged 11 and 12 than among those aged 8 and 9. The father's educational level and smoking status were other factors that significantly affected the children's health status.

CONCLUSION

The reports of health status by school-age children varied across different domains. The study concluded that there is a need for significant interventions by family, school, and health care providers, particularly nurses, to improve children's health status in the comfort domain.