Sobrecarga dos cuidadores de crianças e adolescentes com Síndrome de Down / Burden of caregivers of children and adolescents with Down Syndrome

Resumo O objetivo foi avaliar o perfil e a sobrecarga de cuidadores de crianças/adolescentes com e sem síndrome de Down. As avaliações foram realizadas por meio dos questionários sobre o perfil e a sobrecarga dos cuidadores (Burden Interview), e o perfil das crianças/adolescentes. Estes questionários foram aplicados a 168 cuidadores. Os testes Qui-quadrado, Exato de Fisher e Análise de Variância foram empregados com nível de significância fixado em α = 5%. Ambos os grupos eram compostos por 84 participantes, e os cuidadores do grupo com deficiência apresentaram porcentagem significantemente maior para o sexo feminino (p = 0,001), faixa etária de 41-60 anos (p < 0,001), não possuíam ocupação laboral (p < 0,001), baixa renda per capita (p < 0,001), baixo nível de escolaridade (p = 0,021), religião católica (p = 0,001), maiores de problemas de saúde (p < 0,001), em uso de medicação continua (p < 0,001) e com nível de sobrecarga moderada (p < 0,001). As crianças/adolescentes com deficiência necessitavam significantemente maior auxilio para a alimentação (p = 0,051), banho (p = 0,006), vestuário (p = 0,042), controle de esfíncteres (p = 0,027) e higiene íntima (p < 0,001). Os cuidadores de crianças/adolescentes com síndrome de Down apresentam sobrecarga moderada, quando comparados à cuidadores de crianças/adolescentes normoreativas.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile and burden of caregivers of children/adolescents with and without Down syndrome. The evaluations were performed through questionnaires about the profile and burden of the caregivers (Zarit Burden Interview) and the profile of the children/adolescents. These questionnaires were applied to 168 caregivers. The chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and analysis of variance were used with a significance level set at a = 5%. Both groups were composed of 84 participants, and the caregivers of the disabled group had a significantly higher percentage of females (p = 0.001), those in the 41-60 age group (p < 0.001), those who had no occupation (p < 0.001), those with a low per capita income (p < 0.001), those with a low level of schooling (p = 0.021), those who were Catholic in religion (p = 0.001), those who had more health problems (p < 0.001), those who continued the use of medication (p < 0.001), and those with a moderate level of burden (p < 0.001). The children/adolescents with disabilities needed significantly more help for eating (p = 0.051), bathing (p = 0.006), dressing (p = 0.042), sphincter control (p = 0.027), and intimate hygiene (p < 0.001). The caregivers of children/adolescents with Down syndrome presented a moderate burden compared to the caregivers of normoreactive children/adolescents.

Socioeconomic profile of patients treated at the children's rehabilitation center of Natal, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Objective: to describe the socio-epidemiological profile of patients treated at the Children's Rehabilitation Center of Natal, Brazil, which is a reference institution in the treatment of patients with special needs aged 0-18 years. Material and Methods: medical records and statistics (SAME) from January to December 2010 were analyzed, totaling 846 medical records. Data were collected through pre-elaborated evaluation form, with socioeconomic information, medical clinical condition (ICD), and dental clinical status. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted, presenting data in absolute frequencies and percentages. The intersection of data, applying the chi-square test was not statistically significant (p <5%). R 2.13.1 and Minitab 14 were used.Results:There was prevalence of males (60.52%); age group 0-5 years (52.36%); mesoregion of eastern Rio Grande do Norte (62.53%); income below the minimum wage (78.6%); equivalence between diseases of the nervous system (G) (30.97%), congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q) (30.73%); in males, mental and behavioral disorders (F) were prevalent (31.64%), and in females, diseases of the nervous system (G) were prevalent (32.33%); in dental records, the performance of preventive procedures was reported in 18.71%; restorative procedures in 45.7% and surgical. procedures in 21.8% The average number of decayed teeth was higher in individuals aged over 12 years (5.1), while the standard deviation ranged from 6 to 12 (2.5).Conclusion:The profile of patients is characterized by the predominance of male children with mental and behavioral disorders (F), aged 0-5 years living in the mesoregion of eastern Rio Grande do Norte and income less than one minimum wage. Preventive dental procedures accounted for the highest number of procedures.