Medication use among children 0-14 years old: population baseline study / Uso de medicamentos entre crianças de 0-14 anos: estudo de base populacional

OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of medication use in children and adolescents in 20 municipalities of Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais-Brazil, showing the main groups and variables that may have influenced use. METHODS: Descriptive population-based survey sample of 555 interviews, selected by simple random cluster sampling of 137 census tracts. Inclusion criteria were age ≤ 14 years, mandatory interview with the legal guardians, and regardless of having received medications. Regarding the usage pattern, participants were divided into two groups: consumption and non-consumption of drugs. A descriptive analysis of the variables and tests of association were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of drug consumption was 56.57%, and 42.43% showed no consumption. The use of medicinal plants was 72.9% for drug users and 74.3% for non-users. The health conditions for consumption were cough, common cold, flu, nasal congestion or bronchospasm (49.7%), fever (5.4%), headache (5.4%), diarrhea, indigestion, and abdominal colic (6.7%). In cases of self-medication, 30.57% of the drugs were given by the mother, and 69.42% were prescription drugs. Self-medication was prevalent using paracetamol (30.2%), dipyrone (20.8%), and cold medicine (18.8%). There was increased use of analgesics/antipyretics, followed by respiratory medications, systemic antibiotics, histamine H1 antagonists, and vitamins/antianemics. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of drugs use in children was high, indicating the need for formulating educational programs aiming at the awareness of caregivers regarding rational use. .

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência do consumo de medicamento em crianças e adolescentes de 20 municípios do Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais-Brasil, mostrando os principais grupos e variáveis que possam ter influenciado o uso. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo tipo inquérito populacional domiciliar, amostra constituída por 555 entrevistas selecionadas de maneira aleatória simples por meio de amostragem por conglomerado de 137 setores censitários. Os critérios de inclusão foram idade ≤14 anos, entrevista obrigatória com os responsáveis legais, independente de terem consumido medicamento. Quanto ao padrão de uso os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos consomem e não consomem medicamentos. Realizada análise descritiva das variáveis e aplicados testes de associação. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de consumo de medicamentos foi 56,57% e o não consumo 42,43%. O uso de plantas medicinais foi de 72,9% para o consumo de medicamento e 74,3% para o não consumo. As situações de saúde para o consumo foram tosse, resfriado comum, gripe, congestão nasal ou broncospasmo (49,7%); febre (5,4%); cefaléia (5,4%); diarréia, "má digestão" e cólica abdominal (6,7%). Na automedicação, 30,57% dos medicamentos foram indicados pela mãe, e 69,42% de prescrições médicas. Destaca-se na automedicação o uso de paracetamol (30,2%), dipirona (20,8%) e antigripais (18,8%). E um maior uso de analgésicos/antipiréticos, seguido do aparelho respiratório, antibióticos sistêmicos, antagonistas H1 da histamina e vitaminas/antianêmicos. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência do consumo de medicamentos na população infantil foi alta, indicando a necessidade de formulação de programas educativos visando principalmente à ...

Medication use among children 0-14 years old: population baseline study.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of medication use in children and adolescents in 20 municipalities of Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais-Brazil, showing the main groups and variables that may have influenced use. METHODS: Descriptive population-based survey sample of 555 interviews, selected by simple random cluster sampling of 137 census tracts. Inclusion criteria were age ≤ 14 years, mandatory interview with the legal guardians, and regardless of having received medications. Regarding the usage pattern, participants were divided into two groups: consumption and non-consumption of drugs. A descriptive analysis of the variables and tests of association were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of drug consumption was 56.57%, and 42.43% showed no consumption. The use of medicinal plants was 72.9% for drug users and 74.3% for non-users. The health conditions for consumption were cough, common cold, flu, nasal congestion or bronchospasm (49.7%), fever (5.4%), headache (5.4%), diarrhea, indigestion, and abdominal colic (6.7%). In cases of self-medication, 30.57% of the drugs were given by the mother, and 69.42% were prescription drugs. Self-medication was prevalent using paracetamol (30.2%), dipyrone (20.8%), and cold medicine (18.8%). There was increased use of analgesics/antipyretics, followed by respiratory medications, systemic antibiotics, histamine H1 antagonists, and vitamins/antianemics. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of drugs use in children was high, indicating the need for formulating educational programs aiming at the awareness of caregivers regarding rational use.