Das Gesundheitswesen
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Until now, there have been no nation-wide studies allowing a reliable estimation of the prevalence of pain in children and adolescents in Germany. In addition, data regarding the limitations and use of health care measures were also not available for children and adolescents, as well as data on influential factors that might provide valuable information on the occurrence and persistence of pain in the same epidemiological group. ⋯ An important result of this study shall be the first nation-wide representative figures on the prevalence of pain in general, as well as combinations of various types of pain in children and adolescents. In this way it should provide an up-to-date and representative data source to answer the following questions: How frequent is pain in children and adolescents? To what extent does pain in afflicted individuals lead to limitations? What kinds of health care measure does the individual who suffers such pain seek (medical consultation, medication)? According to the children (or their parents) or adolescents, what factors are involved in causing pain and allowing it to persist?
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Dec 2002
[Efforts concerning the health target of age-specific coverage levels in over 90% of the population of Saxony-Anhalt].
At the first health conference in Saxony-Anhalt held at Magdeburg in March 1998 six health objectives were defined, among them the objective to increase to 90% the vaccination coverage level of the population. To achieve this goal the participants decided to establish a working group composed of representatives of 20 institutions and organisations interested in vaccination strategies. Subgroups were constituted for the following components of the objective: improvement of the data basis, completion of the special knowledge of physicians and other medical personnel, public information campaigns, and improvement of the structural framework. ⋯ The first hurdles on the way to a high age specific vaccination coverage levels have been taken. Further work must be done to improve the use of offered vaccinations and to complete the available data. Therefore, additional target group-related projects and actions are planned for the years to come.