Social Determinants of Health among children aged between 5 and 9 years within the urban area, Sobral, Ceará, Brazil

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In the district of Sobral, for the decade of 2000 at the same time that political measures were implanted towards the decrease of children mortality, discussions have begun about health and educations conditions, as well as life quality of children aged between 5 and 9, which is an age group of lesser vulnerability as far as health goes, although of major importance in the development of healthy habits and for the child's development itself. OBJECTIVE: Based on such scenario, it was set up a cohort of children aged between 5 and 9 and residents of the urban area of the district in order to study health and education conditions and quality of life which are essential for the future of these children in light of the Social Determinants of Health. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a cohort of children born from 1990 to 1994, home interviews, clinical evaluation and lab exams. The structure for the development of the research was elaborated based on the model of attention towards the health of Family Health Strategy. In this report, the results of such home interviews shall be presented in regards to socio-demographic and environmental conditions in general, with a more detailed analysis of life styles, educational levels, child labor, nutrition and the use of health services by children.