Prevalência de úlcera por pressão em Idosos sob assistência domiciliária em um município no Sertão Paraibano.

Abstract

Aging is a natural, dynamic and progressive process that involves several modifications and debilitating manifestations which cause impairment of functional capacity of the elderly, the structure of his/her skin and the increase in chronic degenerative diseases conditions. For this reason, pressure ulcers (UPP) are seen as a high occurrence complication at this stage of life, affecting the quality of life of the elderly, their families and caregivers. In this context, home care (AD) appears to be the strategy to respond to a real need of individual in chronic situation through health promotion, prevention, treatment of diseases and rehabilitation, ensuring ongoing care to the individuals. The aim of this research was to identify the prevalence of pressure ulcers in elderly under home care at Unidade de Saúde da Família, in Aparecida – PB. This research is a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study. Data were collected during the month of July, 2015, through home visits. 15 elderly aged between 66 and 98 years and confined to bed or chair were analyzed. Elderly were registered as users of the Unidade Mista de Saúde Auta Alves Ferreira in Aparecida - PB. The results obtained through the sociodemographic questionnaire, main caregiver and guidance received from the UPP's on pressure ulcers and clinical data characteristics of those interviewed, formed a database and analysis of statistics were performed with the Statistical Package for Social Science for Windows (SPSS). Results revealed that the prevalence of UPP in the elderly interviewed were 27%, especially female aged between 81-90 years, with average age of 83.2 years. It identified a lack of knowledge of caregivers about the care for elderly and from the UPP's, including prevention and predisposing factors. Prevalence study allows us to point out ways and guide behaviors by demonstrating the reality of the population studied.