Author:

• Cassia Garcia Moraes - Moraes, C.G. - Porto Alegre, RS - universidade federal do rio grande do sul - <cassia.moraes@ufrgs.br>

Co-author(s):

• Sotero S Mengue - Mengue, S.S - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - <sotero@ufrgs.br>
• Noemia U LTavares - Tavares, NUL - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - <>
• Tatiane S Dal Pizzol - Dal Pizzol, TS - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - <>

Thematic Area:

Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente

Abstract:

Objective:To estimate the prevalence of drug utilization in children between zero and six years old, analyzing associated socio-demographic characteristics, and evaluating the adequation of the drugs related to indications in Pediatrics and restrictions by age group.
Methods:A transversal sample study constituted by children with six years old or less, residents of a city in the south of Brazil, through cluster sampling. Was applied a standardized questionnaire about drug utilization us 15 days prior to the interview. A descriptive analysis was carried out and the association between drug utilization and socio-demographic factors was evaluated, as well as the analysis of the adequation in Pediatrics of the most prevalent drugs.
Results: From the 687 evaluated children, 52% (IC 95%: 46.9 – 57.0) utilized at least one drug. Associations between drug utilization and socio-demographic characteristics were not found, except to the per capita monthly income (RP 1,20; IC 95% 1,03-1,40). The most prevalent drug was paracetamol (17,1%), followed by amoxicillin (9.5%) and dipyrone (8.4%). Among the ten most utilized drugs in children, six presented age group restrictions in Pediatrics.
Conclusion: The results indicate the expressive use of medication, including medication with age restrictions, particularly for children under two years.

Keywords:

drug utilization infant preschool child prevalence

Content:

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