The aim of the study was to evaluate the understanding of antimicrobial prescriptions by adults accompanying children, describing the medicine utilization profile at Health Units in a South Brazilian city. A cross-sectional study was carried out with adults accompanying children during appointments that resulted in antimicrobial prescription (n=209), from May to June 2007. A score (4-12) was generated to evaluate the understanding based on correct and incorrect/unknown statements about the prescription. Understanding was considered appropriate when the score was below 6.5. Schooling (p=0.05), income (p=0.03), skin color (p=0.007) of accompanying person and length of the visit in minutes (p=0.05) were associated with better understanding of prescriptions. Appropriate understanding represented 58.9% of prescriptions. The most prescribed antimicrobials were amoxicillin and the Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole association. The results point toward the need for standardization of written information and educational measures such as oral and written orientation to assure a better understanding of prescriptions. In this way, better understanding of prescriptions can be assured, which in turn helps treatment to succeed, and also avoids microbial resistance.
Understanding; Pediatric prescription; Antimicrobial
