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[The use of pacifiers in children: fecal contamination and association with diarrhea]
E Tomasi1, C G Victora, P R Post
1Departamento de Medicina Social da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
Insights
Most children in Brazilian slums use pacifiers, with nearly half of those constantly used showing fecal contamination. However, pacifier use was not significantly linked to higher diarrhea rates in this study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Context:
- Study conducted in two peri-urban slums in Pelotas, southern Brazil, characterized by poor sanitation and socioeconomic conditions.
- Focus on children under two years of age, a vulnerable population susceptible to infections.
- High prevalence of pacifier use (79%) among the studied children.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of pacifier use among young children in a resource-limited setting.
- To assess the level of fecal contamination in pacifiers used by children.
- To explore the association between pacifier use and the incidence of diarrhea.
Summary:
- A cross-sectional study included 354 children under two years old.
- Nearly half (49%) of constantly used pacifiers showed fecal coliform contamination.
- Diarrhea prevalence was 35% overall; no statistically significant difference was found between constant pacifier users (40%), occasional users (32%), and non-users (37%).
Impact:
- Highlights potential hygiene risks associated with pacifier use in areas with poor sanitation.
- Suggests that while pacifier contamination is common, it may not be a primary driver of diarrhea in this specific context.
- Informs public health strategies regarding infant feeding practices and hygiene in vulnerable populations.
Abstract:
A cross-sectional study of 354 children under two years of age was carried out in two periurban slums, with poor sanitary and socioeconomic conditions, located in Pelotas, southern Brazil. Most (79%) of the children studied were current users of pacifiers, 15% had never used one and the remaining 6% were ex-users. Among current users, 38% sucked a pacifier most of the time ("constant users"). Of the pacifiers in constant use, 93% were cultured for evidence of fecal contamination. Fecal coliforms were present in 49% of these. Diarrhoea was reported in 35% of all the children in the two weeks preceding the survey. Among constant pacifiers users, 40% had had diarrhoea in the preceding fortnight; this proportion was 32% for occasional users and 37% for non-users. These differences were not statistically significant.