Journal of Public Health 26(1) © Faculty of Public Health 2004; all rights reserved.
The association of self-reported violence at home and health in primary school pupils in West London
Glenn Stewart, Specialist in Public Health
Directorate of Health Improvement, Enfield PCT, Holbrook House, Cockfosters Road, Enfield EN4 0DR
Ruth Ruggles, Honorary Clinical Lecturer
Janet Peacock, Reader in Medical Statistics
2 Department of Community Health Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London
Address correspondence to Glenn Stewart. E-mail: glenn.stewart{at}enfield.nhs.uk
Background The effects of violence upon young people are relatively poorly understood. In 2001 the London Borough of Ealing conducted a large-scale survey of primary school pupils, which included questions on levels of violence at home. The aim of this study was to measure the association of violence at home with measures of health, health care use and health-related behaviours in primary school pupils aged 9 and 11 in West London.
Methods A total of 3007 pupils from 28 primary schools were given a self-complete health questionnaire; 2083 completed a question on violence at home.
Results Pupils reporting violence were more likely to have needed medical attention in the last year. Violence was also associated with greater need of dental care, drinking and spending money on alcohol, spending money on cigarettes, not eating or drinking before school, less willingness to speak to parents and siblings about drugs, and less communication with teachers about puberty and growing up. Violence was positively associated with increased communication with relatives about puberty.
Conclusion Pupils who report violence at home are more likely to have more injuries, riskier health behaviours and less social support than those reporting no violence at home.
Keywords: violence, young people