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Medicine use from birth to age two years: the 2004 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort study

Edilson Almeida de Oliveira1, Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi, Marlos Rodrigues Domingues

  • 1Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brasil.

Revista De Saude Publica
|August 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Medicine use in young children remains high, with self-medication increasing as they age. This highlights the critical need for prioritizing rational medicine use in early childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood medicine use is a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding patterns of medication use in early life is crucial for appropriate healthcare interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe medicine use patterns in children at three, 12, and 24 months of age.
  • To analyze changes in medicine types, acquisition, and self-medication with age.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study utilizing data from the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort in Southern Brazil.
  • Home interviews with parents using standardized questionnaires to collect data on medicine use and related factors.
  • Involved 3,985 children at three months, 3,907 at 12 months, and 3,868 at 24 months.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of medicine use was high: 65.0% at 3 months, 64.4% at 12 months, and 54.7% at 24 months.
  • Self-medication increased with age, reaching 34% at 24 months, with a shift towards sporadic use.
  • Therapeutic drug profiles changed significantly, with dermatological products common at 3 months, respiratory drugs at 12 months, and analgesics at 24 months.

Conclusions:

  • High rates of medicine use in early childhood underscore the need for interventions promoting rational prescribing and use.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring and guiding medicine consumption patterns from infancy.
Abstract

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