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We carried out an epidemiological study of headache in a rural parish in the mountainous region of southern Norway. During a 2-year period from October 1995, 1838 parishioners in the age range 18-65 (or 88.6% of the target group) were examined in a structured interview based on a questionnaire. The questionnaires were validated in two ways: 100 records were re-checked, with a consistency of 98%, and a re-check of 41 parishioners was carried out > 2 months after the 1st examination. The details of the latter control study will be reported later. Only one result of the study is given: namely, idiopathic stabbing headache ("jabs and jolts syndrome") was present in > 30% of parishioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All accidents treated by the Primary Health Services in Vågå Municipality in 1988, were registered. There were altogether 498 accidents (124 accidents per 1,000 inhabitants per year). 418 injured persons were treated by the local health service, 80 were referred to hospital. The major mechanism of injury was falling (38%). The accidents occurred most frequently at home (38%), at the sports-ground/outdoors (23%) or at work (17%). 11 injuries were very serious, none were lethal. 44 occurred during skiing. Our work to prevent accidents will give priority to: the mother and child clinic; environmental health; skiing accidents.