Avaliação dos efeitos de um programa de educação em saúde bucal para pais de crianças com microcefalia pelo Zikavírus

Abstract

Studies have shown that children with microcephaly are part of a high risk group for developing oral diseases. A high incidence of oral diseases may occur due to salivary alterations, pasty diet, constant carbohydrates intake, long-term medication, lack of ability to perform oral hygiene itself, improper movements of the masticatory muscles and tongue. Few studies investigate health education as a proposal to prevent these diseases. Thus, this study aimed to apply and analyze the effects of an oral health education program for parents of children with microcephaly caused by the Zika virus, entitled SORRIZIKA. The program was instituted and put into practice due to the difficulties encountered by parents in performing oral hygiene of children and based on their specificities. The study took place in a public dental polyclinic and in a rehabilitation center where children are cared for free of charge. A quasi-experimental intra-subject A-B-C design was used, organized into Baseline (Phase A), Intervention (Phase B) and follow-up (Phase C). The study had 3 participants and their parents. For data collection, semi-structured interviews and filming of brushing sessions were carried out. Then these were analyzed, in the qualitative and quantitative approaches, in order to detect the performance of the parents, in the use of the intervention program using illustrated booklet, in the different stages of the program. The results showed that the implementation of the program was effective in improving the oral condition of children and that there was also an improvement in the performance of parents in brushing using support systems and illustrated booklet. It was concluded that the oral health educational program for children with Congenital Zika virus Syndrome (SCZV) was effective because, in addition to being based on science, it observed the specificities inherent to them and the needs of their parents.