Resumo

APARICIO SANTIAGO, Guadalupe Leticia; PONCE GOMEZ, Gandhy  e  CARMONA MEJIA, Beatriz. Children's Skin Care and Pressure Ulcers Risk Factors. Enferm. univ [online]. 2010, vol.7, n.3, pp.07-15. ISSN 2395-8421.

Introduction: Comprising 16.91-26% of Mexico City Federal District's total hospitalizations, children in critical status are at risk of developing pressure ulcers (PU). Despite the few related studies conducted in Mexico, a prevalence of this kind of lesions among Mexican children does exist. Conducted in a Federal District health sector third level hospital, the principal Objective: Of this study was to analyze the association and risk factors between Nursing care and the development of pressure ulcers in a sample of critically ill Mexican children. Methodology: Basic-correlational study on 6-12 year old children in critical care units of a Federal District health sector third level hospital; the Braden Scale, the Mexican PU Assessment and Follow-Up Card, and a Nursing Care Observation Guide were used. Results; 77 nurses distributed in 3 shifts, and 35 children (25 male) were observed. The PU risk among children was found to be 68.6°% (Braden Scale); 29 children (82.9%) developed at least one pressure ulcer; 58.6°% of them were grade 1 (or stage 1), and they were mainly located at the occipital, heels, shoulder-blades, and sacrum regions. The Spearman tests revealed an inverse statistically significant linear relation between the skin care and the development of PU (rs1 = -.310, p = .006), while a positive relation between PU risk and its prevalence (rs2 =.384, p = .001). Discussion: Considering these results, the PU risk factors - Nursing care - PU development prevalence relation turned out to be critical. Conclusions: In order to prevent PUs, it is necessary to provide care with quality, but also to have adequate hospital and staff resources and supports.

Palavras-chave : pressure ulcers; children; skin care; Braden Scale.