Functioning and Disability Profile of Children with Microcephaly Associated with Congenital Zika Virus Infection

Haryelle Náryma Confessor Ferreira, Veronica Schiariti, Isabelly Cristina Rodrigues Regalado, Klayton Galante Sousa, Silvana Alves Pereira, Carla Patrícia Novaes dos Santos Fechine and Egmar Longo
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Haryelle Náryma Confessor Ferreira: Postgraduate Program in Collective Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte—Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (UFRN-FACISA), Santa Cruz 59200-000, Brazil
Veronica Schiariti: Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
Isabelly Cristina Rodrigues Regalado: Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, Brazil
Klayton Galante Sousa: Postgraduate Program in Collective Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte—Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (UFRN-FACISA), Santa Cruz 59200-000, Brazil
Silvana Alves Pereira: Postgraduate Program in Collective Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte—Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (UFRN-FACISA), Santa Cruz 59200-000, Brazil
Carla Patrícia Novaes dos Santos Fechine: Undegraduate Program in Physical Therapy, UNIPÊ, João Pessoa 58053-000, Brazil
Egmar Longo: Postgraduate Program in Collective Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte—Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (UFRN-FACISA), Santa Cruz 59200-000, Brazil

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Introduction: The increase in the number of cases of microcephaly in Brazil and its association with the Zika virus (ZIKV) is a global public health problem. The International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) model is a powerful tool and extremely relevant in managing disability. Objective: Describe the functioning profile of children with microcephaly associated with ZIKV in two states of northeastern Brazil. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sociodemographic characteristics, head circumference, and other clinical data were collected from medical charts, physical examinations, measuring instruments, and interviews with the children and their parents. The Brazilian Portuguese version of the Brief Common ICF Core Set for cerebral palsy (CP) was used. Each ICF category was assigned a qualifier, which ranged from 0 to 4 (no problem, mild problem, moderate problem, severe problem, complete problem). For environmental factors, 0 represents no barrier and 4 represents complete barrier; +0, no facilitator and +4, complete facilitator. Results: A total of 34 children with microcephaly caused by ZIKV were recruited (18 girls and 16 boys) at four rehabilitation facilities in Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba states, Brazil. The average age of the participants was 21 months, monthly income was ≈USD 300.00, and head circumference z-scores ranged between 0.92 and −5.51. The functioning profile revealed complete disability in most of the body function categories (b). The activity and participation areas (d) were highly impacted, particularly in mobility-related categories. With respect to environmental factors (e), most of the sample reported a complete facilitator for the immediate family, friends, and health services, systems, and policies, as well as a complete barrier to societal attitudes. Conclusion: This is the first study that describes the functioning profile of children with microcephaly associated with ZIKV, using a tool based on the ICF in Brazil. Our findings reinforce the need to maximize health care and access to information, based on the ICF, for multiprofessional teams, administrators, family members, and children.

Keywords: ICF; public health; Zika virus infection; microcephaly; children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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