ABSTRACT Primary Health Care is a transversal point in the Psychosocial Care Network, responsible for attending to demands related to mental suffering. Although medication represents the main treatment option, the prolonged use of benzodiazepines may lead to tolerance and consequent dependence. The objective of this study is to analyze the frequency and characteristics of benzodiazepine users attending primary healthcare services, through a cross-sectional study conducted in Chapecó, Santa Catarina, a municipality in southern Brazil. Higher proportional prescription was observed in adult and elderly women, with predominance among individuals who were women (80%), white (67.9%), and married (50.7%), with a median age of 56 years. These findings suggest a need to plan and implement changes in the procedures for prescribing and administering benzodiazepines.

RESUMEN La atención primaria de la salud es un punto transversal dentro de la Red de Atención Psicosocial, y atiende las demandas relacionadas con el sufrimiento mental. Si bien los medicamentos representan la principal opción de tratamiento, el uso prolongado de benzodiazepinas puede desarrollar tolerancia y dependencia. El objetivo es analizar la frecuencia y las características de los usuarios de benzodiazepinas en los servicios de atención primaria de la salud, a través de un estudio transversal realizado en la ciudad de Chapecó, estado de Santa Catarina, un municipio del sur de Brasil. Se verificó un elevado número de prescripciones proporcionales entre mujeres, adultos y ancianos y un predominio de personas de sexo femenino (80%), color de piel blanca (67,9%), casadas (50,7%), con una media de edad de 56 años, que señala la necesidad de diseñar e implementar cambios en los procedimientos de prescripción y dispendio de benzodiazepinas.

ABSTRACT Primary Health Care is a transversal point in the Psychosocial Care Network, responsible for attending to demands related to mental suffering. Although medication represents the main treatment option, the prolonged use of benzodiazepines may lead to tolerance and consequent dependence. The objective of this study is to analyze the frequency and characteristics of benzodiazepine users attending primary healthcare services, through a cross-sectional study conducted in Chapecó, Santa Catarina, a municipality in southern Brazil. Higher proportional prescription was observed in adult and elderly women, with predominance among individuals who were women (80%), white (67.9%), and married (50.7%), with a median age of 56 years. These findings suggest a need to plan and implement changes in the procedures for prescribing and administering benzodiazepines.

RESUMEN La atención primaria de la salud es un punto transversal dentro de la Red de Atención Psicosocial, y atiende las demandas relacionadas con el sufrimiento mental. Si bien los medicamentos representan la principal opción de tratamiento, el uso prolongado de benzodiazepinas puede desarrollar tolerancia y dependencia. El objetivo es analizar la frecuencia y las características de los usuarios de benzodiazepinas en los servicios de atención primaria de la salud, a través de un estudio transversal realizado en la ciudad de Chapecó, estado de Santa Catarina, un municipio del sur de Brasil. Se verificó un elevado número de prescripciones proporcionales entre mujeres, adultos y ancianos y un predominio de personas de sexo femenino (80%), color de piel blanca (67,9%), casadas (50,7%), con una media de edad de 56 años, que señala la necesidad de diseñar e implementar cambios en los procedimientos de prescripción y dispendio de benzodiazepinas.

RESUMO A pecuária brasileira está em franca expansão, porém associada ao uso de medicamentos veterinários que podem ser considerados contaminantes emergentes. Este estudo objetivou caracterizar o descarte dos Resíduos de Serviços de Saúde Animal (RSSA), especialmente dos medicamentos veterinários, além de identificar os medicamentos mais usados no município de São Joaquim, Sul do Brasil. Foram entrevistados 84 criadores de gado por meio de questionário estruturado com questões fechadas sobre uso de medicamentos e descarte dos RSSA. Os princípios ativos de medicamentos mais usados foram o antiparasitário ivermectina (68% das propriedades) e o antimicrobiano oxitetraciclina (48%). Após o uso, o descarte dos RSSA foi no resíduo domiciliar, queimado e a depositado no solo. O teste Qui quadrado mostrou associação entre a idade dos participantes e o descarte de perfurocortantes (X2 = 36,36, p= 0,020), evidenciando que agricultores com idade acima de 60 anos costumam reutilizar, aqueles com idade abaixo de 20 anos devolvem no local onde adquirem o material e os demais adotam práticas inadequadas para o descarte. As práticas de descarte dos RSSA adotadas nas propriedades rurais estão em desacordo com a legislação brasileira vigente e podem ocasionar efeitos adversos na saúde humana, animal e ambiental.

ABSTRACT Brazilian animal livestock is in full expansion but linked to the use of veterinary drugs which may be considered as emerging contaminants. The study aimed to characterize the disposal of Animal Healthcare Service Waste (AHSW), especially of veterinary drugs, besides identifying the most used drugs in the city of São Joaquim municipality, southern Brazil. Eighty-four cattle ranchers were interviewed through a structured questionnaire with closed questions about drugs use and disposal of the AHSW. The active ingredients of drugs most used were the antiparasitic ivermectin (68% of properties) and the antimicrobial oxytetracycline (48%). After the use, the disposal of the AHSW, including expired drugs, leftovers and wrapper, was the disposal next to the domestic trash, burned and deposited in the soil. The Chi square test showed association between the age of the participants and the disposal of sharp objects (X2 = 36,36, p= 0,020), showing that farmers aged above 60 years usually reuse, the ones who are 20 years old return to the place where they acquired the material and the rest adopts improper practices. The disposal practices of the AHSW adopted in the properties are still in disagreement with the current Brazilian legislation and may cause adverse effects on human, animal and environmental health.

RESUMO A pecuária brasileira está em franca expansão, porém associada ao uso de medicamentos veterinários que podem ser considerados contaminantes emergentes. Este estudo objetivou caracterizar o descarte dos Resíduos de Serviços de Saúde Animal (RSSA), especialmente dos medicamentos veterinários, além de identificar os medicamentos mais usados no município de São Joaquim, Sul do Brasil. Foram entrevistados 84 criadores de gado por meio de questionário estruturado com questões fechadas sobre uso de medicamentos e descarte dos RSSA. Os princípios ativos de medicamentos mais usados foram o antiparasitário ivermectina (68% das propriedades) e o antimicrobiano oxitetraciclina (48%). Após o uso, o descarte dos RSSA foi no resíduo domiciliar, queimado e a depositado no solo. O teste Qui quadrado mostrou associação entre a idade dos participantes e o descarte de perfurocortantes (X2 = 36,36, p= 0,020), evidenciando que agricultores com idade acima de 60 anos costumam reutilizar, aqueles com idade abaixo de 20 anos devolvem no local onde adquirem o material e os demais adotam práticas inadequadas para o descarte. As práticas de descarte dos RSSA adotadas nas propriedades rurais estão em desacordo com a legislação brasileira vigente e podem ocasionar efeitos adversos na saúde humana, animal e ambiental.

ABSTRACT Brazilian animal livestock is in full expansion but linked to the use of veterinary drugs which may be considered as emerging contaminants. The study aimed to characterize the disposal of Animal Healthcare Service Waste (AHSW), especially of veterinary drugs, besides identifying the most used drugs in the city of São Joaquim municipality, southern Brazil. Eighty-four cattle ranchers were interviewed through a structured questionnaire with closed questions about drugs use and disposal of the AHSW. The active ingredients of drugs most used were the antiparasitic ivermectin (68% of properties) and the antimicrobial oxytetracycline (48%). After the use, the disposal of the AHSW, including expired drugs, leftovers and wrapper, was the disposal next to the domestic trash, burned and deposited in the soil. The Chi square test showed association between the age of the participants and the disposal of sharp objects (X2 = 36,36, p= 0,020), showing that farmers aged above 60 years usually reuse, the ones who are 20 years old return to the place where they acquired the material and the rest adopts improper practices. The disposal practices of the AHSW adopted in the properties are still in disagreement with the current Brazilian legislation and may cause adverse effects on human, animal and environmental health.