<b>Risk factors for infant skin problems within the family environment</b> - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v7i2.4994

Abstract

Skin problems are frequent in children. So the aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for such diseases in the domestic environment and assess the mothers' knowledge regarding the risks at home. The sample consisted of 87 children from 1 to 6 years of age, enrolled in two public day-care centers of the Fortaleza-CE. The interviews with the mothers were carried out in their own homes, during 2004 and 2005, based on social-demographic form data and the risk factors for skin problems. Among 87 mothers interviewed, 76 (87.4%) recognized the existence of risk factors for that in their homes, with the presence of insects (51.3%). Existence of sandy terrain (40.8%) was the risk conditions most often mentioned by the mothers. The risk factors most frequently found by the interviewers were: the presence of insects (90.8%), preference for industrialized food (80.5%) and crowding (78.2%); revealing that the study mothers did not recognize, in equal proportion, the risks brought by their own household, as verified by the interviewer. Therefore, the nursing knowledge is needed to develop educational activities that emphasize risk prevention to ultimately benefit child health.