Veruska Medeiros Martins

Factors associated with early weaning at a Child-Friendly Healthcare Initiative Hospitall

PURPOSE: Considering the benefits of breastfeeding on childrens health, the aim of the present study was to determine factors associated with early weaning among children at a Child-Friendly Healthcare Initiative (CFHI) childrens hospital in the city of Campina Grande, state of Paraiba, Brazil. METHODS: An analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out involving 800 mothers of children between 0 and 24 months of age at the Elpidio de Almeida Health Institute. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered and contained questions on socio-demographic characteristics, eating habits and nonnutritive sucking habits. The chi-square test and Fishers exact test were employed for statistical analysis. A multivariate analysis was performed with variables that achieved a P-value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of early weaning was 13.5%. In the bivariate analysis, the factors associated with early weaning were income (P=0.001), childs birth weight (P=0.016), bottle feeding (P=0.003) and pacifier use (P<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, pacifier use remained significantly associated with early weaning (OR: 3.23; 95% CI: 1.871 to 5.591; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Pacifier use was associated with early weaning, even when mothers were advised to avoid this habit.

Knowledge of occupational diseases and immunization among healthcare students

Purpose: To investigate the knowledge and practices of immunization against occupational diseases and its associated factors among health students. Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out with a random sample of 275 graduate students from the Schools of Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Psychology and Nursing. During data collection we carried out individual interviews on issues related to immunization coverage, diseases and occupational accidents and sociodemographic variables. The statistical tests used were the Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests (α=0.05). Results: Most students considered influenza (65.5%) and hepatitis B (58.5%) occupational diseases. Almost 30% of the students reported having attended to patients with infectious diseases, especially AIDS. Contact with body fluids or accidental exposure was reported by 12.7% being 34.3% by accident with drills; 88.2% of the students had incomplete immunization coverage due to lack of time in most cases (27%). None of the variables was significantly associated with vaccination coverage. Conclusion: The students’ knowledge of occupational diseases and vaccination coverage was poor, which reflects the need for motivational policies through activities for clarification and expansion of vaccination coverage.