Unsafe storage of household medicines: results from a cross-sectional study of four-year-olds from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort (Brazil).

Background: Unintentional child poisoning represents a significant public health problem across the globe, placing a substantial burden on health services emergency departments. Around the world, every year, thousands of children die as a result of physical injuries, most of which involve children under 5 years old. Medicines are the main products involved in poisoning, and children under 5 years old are the most vulnerable age group.

[Physical activity, screen time, and use of medicines among adolescents: the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study].

This study aimed to evaluate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between physical activity, screen time, and use of medicines among adolescents from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study, followed at 11 (N = 4,452), 15 (N = 4,325), and 18 years of age (N = 4,106). The study recorded the use of medicines in the previous 15 days, continuous use of some medication, level of physical activity (by questionnaire and accelerometry), and screen time (TV, computer, and videogame). One-third of adolescents had used at least one medicine in the previous 15 days and approximately 10% were on some continuous medication.

Self-medication among adolescents aged 18 years: the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study.

Purpose: To estimate the point prevalence of self-medication among adolescents aged 18 years and to evaluate the type of drugs used (either over-the-counter or prescription drugs) and socioeconomic, health-related, and behavioral correlates of self-medication.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Data were obtained through the administration of a questionnaire to adolescents aged 18 years.

Use of medicines with unknown fetal risk among parturient women from the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort (Brazil).

Background: To estimate the exposure to medicines with unknown fetal risk during pregnancy and to analyze the maternal characteristics associated with it.

Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 4,189 mothers of children belonging to the 2004 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study about use of any medicine during gestation. We evaluated the associations between use of medicines with unknown fetal risk and the independent variables through logistic regression models.

[Affordability and availability of drugs for treatment of chronic diseases in the public health care system].

Objective: To assess the affordability by workers of drugs used for treatment of chronic diseases, as well as the availability of the reference, similar, or generic forms of these drugs in the public health care system.

Methods: We employed the methodology recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI) for the standardized collection of information on selling prices in the private sector and availability in the public health care system of drugs in six cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data were collected from November 2008 to January 2009.

Household expenditures for medicines and the role of free medicines in the Brazilian public health system.

Objectives: We sought to investigate, across different socioeconomic groups, the proportion of household medicine expenses that were paid by households and the proportion paid by the Brazilian national health system.

Methods: We carried out a survey in Porto Alegre, Brazil, that included 2988 individuals of all ages. We defined 2 expenditure variables: "out-of-pocket medicines value" (the sum of retail prices of all medicines used by family members within the previous 15 days and paid for out of pocket) and "free medicines value" (a similar definition for medicines obtained without charge).

[Adherence to essential medicines in cities from three Brazilian states].

This study compared the Municipal Essential Medicines Lists (REMUME) and examined adherence by prescribers and availability of essential medicines in the health units affiliated with the Unified National Health System (SUS). Data were collected on lists and medicines prescribed to 2,411 patients enrolled consecutively in primary or secondary care services in Brazilian municipalities. Of 5,222 prescribed medicines, 76.

Adverse drug reactions: a cohort study in internal medicine units at a university hospital.

Objectives: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are important causes of hospitalization, morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. In addition to the impact they have on human life, they also significantly influence health costs. This study intended to (1) identify suspected ADRs and establish their frequency of development, (2) establish a causal relationship with the suspected drug(s) and (3) verify if there is an association between the development of an ADR and factors such as age, gender, number of diagnoses and number of prescribed medications.