Author/Authors :
Kelishadi, Roya Department of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non Communicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences - Isfahan, Iran , Safiri, Saeid Department of Public Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery - Maragheh University of Medical Sciences - Maragheh, Iran , Djalalinia, Shirin Development of Research & Technology Center - Deputy of Research and Technology - Ministry of Health and Medical Education - Tehran, Iran , Miranzadeh, Sareh Department of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non Communicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences - Isfahan, Iran , Motlagh, Mohammad Esmaeil Department of Pediatrics - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences - Ahvaz, Iran , Asayesh, Hamid Department of Medical Emergencies - Qom University of Medical Sciences - Qom, Iran , Beshtar, Shaghayegh Student Research Committee - Alborz University of Medical Sciences - Karaj, Iran , Mansourian, Morteza School of Health - Iran University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , Mahdavi Gorabi, Armita Department of Basic and Clinical Research - Tehran Heart Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , Safari, Omid Non-communicable Diseases Research Center - Alborz University of Medical Sciences - Karaj, Iran , Qorbani,Mostafa Non-communicable Diseases Research Center - Alborz University of Medical Sciences - Karaj, Iran
Abstract :
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has
become a major concern in the field of children’s health research.
We assessed HRQoL among Iranian children and adolescents
according to the socioeconomic status (SES) of their living region.
Methods: Via multistage cluster sampling from rural and urban
school students aged 6 to 18 years, this nationwide study was
conducted from 2011 to 2012. HRQoL was assessed using
the adolescent core version of the Pediatric Quality of Life
questionnaire. Through survey data analysis methods, the data
were compared according to the SES of the living region, sex,
and the living area.
Results: Overall, 23043 students participated in the survey
(participation rate=92.2%). The mean age of the participants
was 12.55±3.31 years. Boys accounted for 50.8% of the study
population, and 73.4% were from urban areas. At national level,
the mean of the HRQoL total score was 81.7 (95% CI: 81.3 to
82.1) with a mean of 83.5 (95% CI: 83.0 to 84.1) for the boys
and 79.8 (95% CI: 79.1 to 80.5) for the girls. The highest and the
lowest scores, respectively, belonged to social functioning (90.0
[95% CI: 89.7 to 90.3]) and emotional functioning (78.2 [95%
CI: 77.7 to 78.7]). The highest total HRQoL score belonged to
the second highest SES region of the country (mean=83.1; 95%
CI: 82.5 to 83.7). The association between total HRQoL and
the score of all the subscales and SES in the living area was
statistically significant (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that in
the children and adolescents, SES was associated with HRQoL.
Accordingly, HRQoL and the related SES differences should be
considered one of the priorities in health research and health policy.
Keywords :
Iran , Adolescent , Child , Quality of life
