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Table 1 Characteristics of study subjects and prevalence of herbal medicinal product use – by health related indicators

From: Use of herbal medicinal products among children and adolescents in Germany

Study subjects

Herbal medicinal product users

 

N*

%**

n*

%**

95 %CI

P***

Total

17,450

100

1,055

5.8

5.3-6.3

Children's health status

      

Parents-rated health status

      
 

Excellent

6,873

39.1

366

5.2

4.6-5.9

.002

Good

9,250

54.1

592

6.1

5.5-6.8

Fair/bad/very bad

1,102

6.7

92

7.9

6.2-10.0

CSHCN-Screener****

      
 

Yes

2,205

13.7

135

6.2

5.1-7.6

.629

No

13,752

86.3

857

5.9

5.4-6.5

Body mass index (BMI)

      
 

Underweight

1,121

7.0

80

6.3

4.8-8.2

.136

Normal

13,567

78.4

833

5.9

5.4-6.5

Overweight

2,517

14.6

130

4.8

3.8-6.0

Children's health behavior

      

Sports activities

      

(children aged 3–17 years only)

 

Daily

2,335

16.7

89

3.7

3.0-4.7

.000

3-5 times/week

3,119

23.3

142

4.6

3.9-5.6

1-2 times/week

5,811

40.2

353

6.0

5.2-6.8

1-2 times/month

1,306

8.5

100

7.3

5.9-9.2

Never

1,691

11.3

82

4.6

3.6-5.9

Vegetable & fruit consumption

      

(children aged 1–17 years only)

 

Low

3,866

26.6

185

4.8

4.0-5.7

.002

Middle

7,415

47.2

455

5.9

5.2-6.7

High

4,176

26.2

288

7.0

6.1-8.0

Parental socio-economic status

     

Immigration background

      
 

No

14,790

82.8

957

6.3

5.7-6.9

.000

Yes

2,580

17.2

93

3.5

2.8-4.2

Maternal education level

      
 

Primary

3,849

25.4

171

4.3

3.6-5.2

.000

Middle

7,836

40.3

510

6.4

5.6-7.2

Higher

4,838

28.5

339

6.7

6.0-7.6

Others

927

5.7

35

3.5

2.3-5.3

Paternal educationlevel

      
 

Primary

4,832

31.7

233

4.7

4.0-5.5

.000

Middle

5,933

28.1

401

6.5

5.6-7.5

Higher

5,100

31.3

368

7.0

6.2-7.9

Others

1,585

9.0

53

3.4

2.5-4.7

Household income per month

      
 

<1500 €

3,558

19.0

183

5.0

4.2-6.0

.021

1500 - <2250 €

4,469

26.6

262

5.3

4.5-6.2

2250 - <3000 €

4,354

27.2

284

6.2

5.4-7.1

> = 3000 €

3,986

27.2

267

6.6

5.8-7.5

Social status

      
 

Lower

4,760

27.5

234

4.7

4.0-5.5

.001

Intermediate

7,901

45.4

506

6.1

5.4-6.9

Upper

4,366

27.0

307

6.9

6.0-7.8

Parents-related health behavior

     

Exclusive breastfeeding of children

      
 

Never

3,646

22.6

193

5.1

4.3-6.1

.010

Combined with formula milk/unclear

2,493

7.8

130

5.1

4.1-6.3

< 4 months

3,739

20.8

229

5.6

4.8-6.6

4-5 months

3,174

18.5

216

6.5

5.6-7.5

≥ 6 months

3,796

23.5

270

7.0

6.1-8.0

Children exposed to passive smoking at home

      
 

Daily

2,612

16.6

102

3.8

3.1-4.8

.000

Sometimes

2,236

13.1

121

5.1

4.1-6.2

Never

12,137

70.4

820

6.5

5.9-7.2

  1. *Absolute numbers, unweighted, the sum of subgroups may not be equal to the total because of missing values.
  2. **Percentages, weighted.
  3. ***P-values: derived from Rao-Scott chi-square tests for the difference of prevalence estimates within specific groups.
  4. ****Children with Special Health Care Needs.
  5. Data source: German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) 2003–2006.