Estudo de utilização de medicamentos em crianças na atenção básica no município de Cuité-PB.

Abstract

Studies of drug use are performed when it needs information that can contribute to improving the health of the population. Most prescription drugs in pediatric patients have not been adequately studied and given the limited number of clinical trials in children is very important to know the use of medications in this age group. This study is exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional developed at the municipal Basic Pharmacy in order to describe the use of pediatric medicines in the municipality of Cuité-PB. 93 questionnaires were applied november in 2014 to March 2015. The average age was 4.1 years, where 59.1% were female. Most respondents corresponded to the mother (77.4%) and the predominant family income was less than 1 minimum wage. The health center was the most popular service for consultations (52.7%) and the Basic Pharmacy was the most frequent site for the purchase of medicines (80.6%). Most children (38.7%) consulted a health professional 5 times or more in the year preceding the survey. Regarding drugs, they were registered 171 prescription items, the average of 2 drugs per child. The Antibacterials for systemic use was the most prevalent class (36.84%), and azithromycin (17%) followed the most widely prescribed drug Ibuprofen (12.9%) and amoxicillin (8.8%). Much of the drugs (70.1%) were prescribed off-label mode and that 81.7% of children received at least one prescription in this way and the dose (56.7%) was the biggest reason for this classification. Only two children use drugs chronically and only one drug interaction was detected. The use of antibiotics is very common in the population studied as well as the prescription of off-label manner of drugs, especially in relation to dose them. It is necessary awareness of prescribers regarding the off-label use, as well as the development of clinical protocols that support the requirements for children in the municipality of Cuité.