Article
Bavarian Health Monitoring Units (GME): Concept and first results
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Published: | September 8, 2005 |
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Concept
Starting in summer 2004, health monitoring units (GME) were established at selected local health authorities in Bavaria. GME are a cooperation between these local health authorities, the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL) and external partners from universities on behalf of the Bavarian Ministry for Environment, Health and Consumer Protection (StMUGV). Within the network tasks of the LGL are project coordination and data management besides planning and realisation of specific scientific projects. The GMEs aim is to gain current and relevant health data in Bavaria by systematic and standardized data collection. Moreover an additional focus includes testing, evaluating and further development of intervention and prevention strategies.
First survey 2004/2005: "Children's environment and health"
The survey was embedded in the medical examination for school enrolment in Bamberg, Guenzburg, Ingolstadt, Munich and Schwandorf. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire distributed to parents of preschool children (aged 5 to 7 years).
The study population covers approximately 9000 children.
The objectives of the survey are to gather representative and valid data for Bavaria on:
- children’s exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants from different sources,
- the impact of housing conditions on the occurrence of respiratory diseases, injuries by traffic accidents and obesity in children,
- the prevalence of accidents and accident caused injuries and their sociodemographic determinants,
- social inequalities in children’s environmental exposures and health,
- the connection between children´s physical activity and nutrition and the prevalence of obesity
First results will be presented at the meeting.
The insights gained within the GME-project will contribute to the identification and quantification of health risks of Bavarian children. Additionally, intervention strategies with special focus on local health authorities in Bavaria will be derived and established. The GMEs are expected to contribute important insights for political prevention and health promotion measures in Bavaria.