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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of electronic devices as entertainment and recreation means has directly affected adolescents’ lives; however their excessive use may bring consequences. This study aimed at observing the prevalence of primary headaches and their possible association with excessive use of computers among adolescents. METHODS: Participated in the study 262 teenagers aged between 14 and 19 years, students of a public school, who have answered a questionnaire to evaluate socio-demographic variables, data on computer use, presence of headache symptoms and level of physical activity. Multiple models of binary and multinomial logistic regression were used to evaluate the association among variables. Significance level was 5%. RESULTS: Prevalence of headache was 87.8%. There has been no significant difference in the prevalence of headache between genders, but among classification types, tension headache was more prevalent among females (35.4%). Females aged between 12 and 15 years and excessive computer use had higher chances of reporting headache. Females have 15.61 times more chance of reporting tension headache. Adolescents reporting excessive computer use had 2.54 times more chance of reporting migraine. CONCLUSION: Results have shown high prevalence of primary headache among adolescents, being migraine the most prevalent type. Abusive computer use were considered risk factors for the development of headache.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of electronic devices has reconfigured the daily life of adolescents; however, their excessive use may be associated to health problems. This study aimed at observing the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among adolescents and its association with the use of computers and videogames. METHODS: Sample was made up of 265 adolescents of both genders (14 to 19 years old), students of a public school, who have answered a questionnaire about the use of electronic devices, musculoskeletal pain, physical activity and demographics. Values of absolute and relative frequency, confidence intervals and mean and standard deviation were expressed for descriptive analysis. Independent t and Chi-square tests were used for comparison between genders, and multiple logistic regression model was used for association test. All tests had significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was 72.1%, being significantly higher for females. There has been no association between musculoskeletal pain and the use of electronic devices; however it was identified that females had 10.66 times more probability of reporting this type of pain. Cervical and thoraco-lumbar pains were associated to females (OR=1.80), and individuals attending the 2nd and 3rd year were associated to cervical pain (OR≥2.26). CONCLUSION: There has been high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among adolescents, especially females. Although not observing association between pain and use of electronic devices, it was noted that those attending the last years of high school and of the female gender had higher risk to develop musculoskeletal pain. RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O uso de dispositivos eletrônicos reconfigurou o cotidiano dos adolescentes, porém a utilização excessiva pode estar associada a problemas de saúde. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a prevalência de dor musculoesquelética em adolescentes e sua associação com o uso de computador e jogos eletrônicos. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta por 265 adolescentes de ambos os gêneros (14 a 19 anos), estudantes de uma escola pública, que responderam um questionário sobre uso de dispositivos eletrônicos, dor musculoesquelética, atividade física e dados sócio-demográficos. Para análise descritiva, foram expressos valores de frequência absoluta, relativa, intervalos de confiança e média e desvio padrão. Foram utilizados o teste t independente e Qui-quadrado para comparação entre gêneros, e modelo de regressão logística múltipla para teste de associação. Todos os testes tiveram nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de dor musculoesquelética foi de 72,1%, sendo significativamente maior no gênero feminino. Não foi encontrada associação entre dor musculoesquelética e uso de dispositivos eletrônicos. Porém, foi identificado que o gênero feminino apresenta 10,66 mais probabilidades de referir esse tipo de dor. As dores cervicais e toracolombares tiveram associação com gênero feminino (OR=1,80) e os indivíduos que cursam o 2º e 3º ano tiveram associação com dor cervical (OR≥2,26). CONCLUSÃO: Evidenciou-se alta prevalência de dor musculoesquelética nos adolescentes, principalmente do gênero feminino. Embora não se tenha observado associação entre dor e uso de dispositivos eletrônicos, notou-se que aqueles que cursam os últimos anos do ensino médio e do gênero feminino apresentam maior risco de desenvolver dores musculoesqueléticas.