Table 4.
Factors associated with use of self-medications among children in Germany; German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) 2003–2006
| Self-medication overall | OTC drugs | OS drugs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | |||
| Boys | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| Girls | 1.07 (0.99, 1.16) | 1.06 (0.97, 1.16) | 1.10 (0.98, 1.23) |
| Age group, years | |||
| 0–2 | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| 3–6 | 1.08 (0.95, 1.24) | 0.92 (0.79, 1.07) | 1.38 (1.14, 1.67) |
| 7–10 | 1.00 (0.87, 1.14) | 0.87 (0.74, 1.02) | 1.20 (0.97, 1.49) |
| 11–13 | 1.06 (0.92, 1.22) | 0.90 (0.77, 1.06) | 1.29 (1.04, 1.61) |
| 14–17 | 1.16 (1.00, 1.34) | 1.09 (0.93, 1.28) | 1.28 (1.02, 1.62) |
| Region | |||
| East | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| West | 1.16 (0.97, 1.38) | 1.15 (0.96, 1.38) | 1.18 (0.81, 1.71) |
| Urbanicity | |||
| Village | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| Small city | 1.11 (0.87, 1.41) | 1.11 (0.86, 1.45) | 1.09 (0.72, 1.66) |
| Medium-sized city | 1.34 (0.91, 1.42) | 1.28 (1.00, 1.65) | 0.89 (0.59, 1.33) |
| Large city | 1.18 (0.93, 1.50) | 1.14 (0.86, 1.51) | 1.15 (0.76, 1.74) |
| Migrant background | |||
| Yes | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| No | 1.55 (1.33, 1.80) | 1.88 (1.56, 2.27) | 1.16 (0.96, 1.40) |
| Health status | |||
| Excellent | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| Good | 1.16 (1.05, 1.27) | 1.18 (1.06, 1.31) | 1.08 (0.94, 1.25) |
| Satisfactory/poor | 1.29 (1.10, 1.52) | 1.34 (1.11, 1.62) | 1.15 (0.89, 1.48) |
| Household income (€) | |||
| <1500 | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| 1500–2250 | 1.14 (0.91, 1.17) | 1.07 (0.92, 1.25) | 0.95 (0.79, 1.16) |
| 2250–3000 | 1.13 (0.99, 1.29) | 1.19 (1.02, 1.39) | 0.99 (0.80, 1.21) |
| ≥3000 | 1.23 (1.06, 1.42) | 1.20 (1.00, 1.43) | 1.27 (1.04, 1.56) |
| Maternal educational level | |||
| Primary | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| Middle | 1.20 (1.06, 1.36) | 1.26 (1.08, 1.48) | 1.19 (0.91, 1.37) |
| Higher | 1.37 (1.19, 1.57) | 1.40 (1.17, 1.67) | 1.30 (1.06, 1.58) |
| Others | 1.01 (0.80, 1.27) | 1.10 (0.84, 1.44) | 0.85 (0.60, 1.21) |
| Paternal educational level | |||
| Primary | Reference | Reference | Reference |
| Middle | 1.13 (1.00, 1.26) | 1.13 (0.99, 1.29) | 1.01 (0.85, 1.20) |
| Higher | 1.09 (0.96, 1.25) | 1.15 (0.99, 1.33) | 0.96 (0.79, 1.15) |
| Others | 0.93 (0.76, 1.15) | 0.82 (0.64, 1.04) | 1.08 (0.81, 1.45) |
Data are presented as an odds ratio (95% confidence interval), Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were obtained from multivariate regression models with self-medication use, overall and in subgroup OTC and OS drugs, as dependent variable and all other variables shown in the table as independent variables. Figures in body text mean statistically significant.