Cross-sectional study of factors associated with the use of inhaled corticosteroids in children living in the city of Cuiaba, state of Mato Grosso/Brazil, 2010

Objective: to analyse factors associated with inhaled corticosteroid use in children under 5 years old. Methods: cross-sectional study carried out in Cuiaba with a sample of 733 children. Crude odds ratios (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (ORaj) and Confidence Intervals (95%CI) were estimated using logistic regression models. Results: the prevalence of inhaled corticosteroid use in the past 12 months was 13.2% (95%CI = 8.4; 18.0%). It was associated with the use of private health services (ORaj = 4.62; 95%CI = 2.41; 8.85), asthma diagnosed by a doctor (ORaj = 3.97; 95%CI = 1.37; 11.48), bronchitis hospitalization (ORaj = 2.31; 95%CI = 1.04; 5.12), and three or more wheezing episodes in the past 12 months (ORaj = 2.78; 95%CI = 1.10; 7.03). Conclusion: the use of inhaled corticosteroids was associated with private health services, medical diagnosis of asthma and severe asthma indicators.