Socio-economic differences in health status were investigated in a sample of 2616 adolescents (mean age 15 years) attending 31 selected schools in Košice. The sample was stratified by sex and type of school, based on official statistics, and can be considered representative for the Slovak adolescent population of the appropriate age. For assessment of the health status the authors used the following self-reporting techniques: questionnaire on subjective wellbeing (GHQ-12), range of general health status evaluation, morbidity range, questionnaire on health issues, questionnaire on the use of health services and inventory of chronic health problems. The socio-economic status of adolescents depended on type of attended school. The investigation confirmed that socio-economic differences in health status in the group of Slovak adolescents are more frequent and more marked as compared with studies implemented abroad. The most marked class differences in health status were found as regards subjective health problems and in the range of morbidity. The type of school proved to be a more sensitive indicator of class differences in the health status of adolescents than the parents’ education.

        Key words: adolescence, health socio-economic inequities, type of school