Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective: To investigate knowledge of caregivers of children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH), followed in a public reference service, as well as their associations with treatment adherence.Methods: Exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional study with convenience sample. Medical records of 158 patients diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism were analyzed, and data were evaluated by applying a previously prepared questionnaire to caregivers from 2014 to 2016. Statistical analysis used the chi-square and the Spearman’s correlation tests, being significant p-value ≤0.05.Results: Females were predominant among caregivers (94.3%), with a mean age of 31 years, from inland cities (77.8%). There was a predominance of socioeconomic class C (59.5%) and incomplete primary education (35.7%). More than half of patients (53.2%) with CH had an adequate hormonal control. Approximately one third of caregivers had poor knowledge (37.3%) or was unaware (24.1%) about the meaning of congenital hypothyroidism. The low knowledge level of the disease was observed to be related to caregivers’ educational level (p=0.004).Conclusions: Lack of education of caregivers was a barrier to be faced when monitoring children with CH. This reality requires greater attention from health professionals to ensure that they use clear language when giving instructions to caregivers, and that caregivers have adequately understood the proposed recommendations.
Highlights
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a chronic endocrine disturbance, affecting one in every 2,000 to 4,000 newborns.[1,2] In Brazil, prevalence is similar to worldwide parameters, ranging between 1:2595 to 1:4795 live newborns.[3,4]CH is characterized by the decline in thyroid hormone (TH) production, mainly due to defects in gland formation, thyroid dysgenesis.[5,6] This disturbance results in a generalized reduction in metabolic processes, which interfere in the neurological and motor growth, and development of children.[6]CH is traced by neonatal screening tests, due to their elevated sensitivity and efficacy
A predominance of the female sex over the male sex (1.2:1) could be observed in patients with CH — a little lower than the value found in literature (2:1).[12]
The female sex was prevalent among children, and among their caregivers. This predominance of care reflects a social ideology of the female sex being linked to the responsibility for caring for their children — the so-called “maternal concern”
Summary
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a chronic endocrine disturbance, affecting one in every 2,000 to 4,000 newborns.[1,2] In Brazil, prevalence is similar to worldwide parameters, ranging between 1:2595 to 1:4795 live newborns.[3,4]CH is characterized by the decline in thyroid hormone (TH) production, mainly due to defects in gland formation, thyroid dysgenesis.[5,6] This disturbance results in a generalized reduction in metabolic processes, which interfere in the neurological and motor growth, and development of children.[6]CH is traced by neonatal screening tests, due to their elevated sensitivity and efficacy. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a chronic endocrine disturbance, affecting one in every 2,000 to 4,000 newborns.[1,2] In Brazil, prevalence is similar to worldwide parameters, ranging between 1:2595 to 1:4795 live newborns.[3,4]. CH is characterized by the decline in thyroid hormone (TH) production, mainly due to defects in gland formation, thyroid dysgenesis.[5,6] This disturbance results in a generalized reduction in metabolic processes, which interfere in the neurological and motor growth, and development of children.[6]. CH is traced by neonatal screening tests, due to their elevated sensitivity and efficacy. The recommended period for collecting blood sample is between the 3rd and 5th day of life.[7] The presence of any hormonal imbalance must be proved with confirmatory tests, which must be performed as early as possible, ideally between the first and second weeks of the newborn’s life
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