Evaluation of the use of psycopharms in children in mental health services in Fortaleza - Ceará

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the use of psychotropic drugs in children in mental health services infantojuvenil. Methods: Cross-sectional study. The population consisted of 869 children. Participating children up to 12 years, accompanied by guardians. Simple random sample was used P equal to 50% of children enrolled in services. A significance level of 97% and relative sampling error (e = 8%). Data were stored in EPI-INFO and analyzed in STATA. Bivariate analysis used the chi-square test with a significance level of 5%, 95% confidence interval. Results: Of the 292 children who met the inclusion criteria of the study, the majority were male (74.3%), aged seven to ten years (61.2%). Most received psychotropic prescription (88.3%). The average was 1.20 drugs by children (12%) are safe for use in children. The highest proportion of children using psychiatric drugs was: male (72.7%), aged from three to eight years (54.6%), responsible female (92.6%), older age (58.9 %), kinship parents (87.5%), married (53.5%), school (62.3%), Catholic (58.9%), social classes D and E (89.4%) and paid work (55.5%). Conclusions: A high proportion of prescriptions of psychotropic drugs in mental health services is worrying, since mostly the drugs are not suitable for use in children. Pharmaceutical interventions in child mental health is a challenge, but it is expected that the placement of this theme encourages pharmaceutical professionals to share knowledge and skills in child mental health.