Medication use in children from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort aged between three months and four years

Bibliographic Data

ID5169920
AuthorsSimone Farías-Antúnez (0000-0002-1546-4217, Universidade Federal de Pelotas), Marysabel Silveira (0000-0002-6453-8534, Universidade Federal de Pelotas), Marlos R Domingues (0000-0002-2503-2944, Universidade Federal de Pelotas), Mariela Felisbino Da Silveira (0000-0002-2861-7139, Universidade Federal de Pelotas), Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi (0000-0002-4680-3197, Universidade Federal de Pelotas)
Year2022
Volume38
Issue3
Pagese00117221-e00117221
Publication date2022-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCadernos de Saude Publica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0102-311X • E-ISSN: 1678-4464
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/0102311x00117221
PMID35476048
OpenAlexW4226268329
SCIELO_PIDS0102-311X2022000305012
LanguageEN
References cited17

Medication use is an important part of the health process and prevalence of its use among infants can reach up to 65% in their first months of life. The excessive use of medication could lead to an increase in their potential harm, surpassing their benefits. Considering this, this study aimed to describe medication use in children aged 3, 12, 24, and 48 months. Standardized questionnaires were applied to assess patterns and covariables of medication use. Medication use was investigated as an outcome and defined as the receipt of any medication within 15 days before the interview. Prevalence of medication use and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were described using chi-squared tests. Prescription source and frequency of use were also reported, along with the most frequent medication in each follow-up. Medication use prevalence was 67.2% (95%CI: 65.8; 68.6), 68.2% (95%CI: 66.8; 69.6), 52.4% (95%CI: 50.9; 54.0), 47.2% (95%CI: 45.7; 48.8), at 3, 12, 24, and 48 months, respectively. We observed a decrease in the proportion of medically prescribed medications and an increase in self-medication over the years. Drugs for gastrointestinal disorders (A03), vitamins (A11), analgesics (N02), anti-inflammatories (M01), and nasal formulations (R01) were the most frequently used medications. We found that children under four years of age comprised over 50% of the total use of medications and self-medication. These results highlight the need to warn caregivers on the importance of proper professional examination and prescription before they administer medications to children

Cohort · Cohort study · Confidence interval · Health professionals · Medical prescription · Medication adherence · MEDLINE · Self-medication · Antibiotic Use and Resistance · Pediatric Pain Management Techniques · Pharmaceutical studies and practices

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