Seasonal variations in children’s calls to a help-line: implications for preventive services

Abstract

Background: To investigate seasonal variations in telephone calls to a help-line for children, and their correlation to changes in length of day, latitude and age. Method: 691,787 calls to the Red Cross Help-Line in Norway for children in the three-year period 1996–1998 were included. Results: Monthly frequencies of calls deviated significantly from an expected even distribution ( χ 2=9446.34, df=11, P<0.0001). The frequency curve for calls peaked in April and October and had its lowest level in July and December. Variation was pronounced: the mean number of daily calls varied between 436 in July and 886 in April. There was a strong and positive correlation between the number of calls and the change in length of day across the year ( r s=0.76, N=12, P<0.01). Increasing latitude correlated positively with the range of the monthly observed/expected ratios of calls ( r s=0.79, N=7, P<0.05). The frequency of calls was largest among children 12 to 14 years of age. Age correlated negatively with the range of monthly observed/expected ratios of calls ( r=−0.94, N=12, P<0.001). Limitations: Social and cultural factors could not be explored in the design used in the present study. Conclusions: The frequency of calls from children correlates positively with change in length of day (i.e., maximal in spring and fall), and the magnitude of the seasonal variation correlates positively with latitude and negatively with age. Knowledge of seasonal variation in requests for help may have value in planning services for children.