Vivência de um estudante de Iniciação Científica na coleta de dados de uma coorte odontológica materno-infantil no sul do Brasil: Relato de experiência.

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.412122505063

• Palavras-chave: Iniciação científica; Estudos de coorte; Saúde bucal materno-infantil; Relato de experiência

• Keywords: Undergraduate Research; Cohort Studies; Maternal and Child Oral Health; Experience Report

• Abstract: This experience report describes the participation of an Undergraduate Research (UR) student in the follow-up phase of a maternal and child dental cohort conducted in the municipality of Santa Maria, in southern Brazil. The cohort began in 2022 with 520 pregnant women receiving care in public health services. Starting in October 2023, with the children in their second year of life, the second phase of the study was launched. Data collection was conducted primarily by phone, with home visits carried out in cases where remote contact was not possible. This phase aimed to investigate key aspects of child development, such as breastfeeding, introduction of complementary foods, onset of tooth eruption, and oral hygiene practices. As an UR student, I was responsible for contacting participating mothers through phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and, when necessary, active search on social media. In the final stage of data collection, I accompanied the home visits conducted by the examination team, performing the role of note-taker. This experience provided a practical immersion in a longitudinal study, promoting the development of interpersonal skills, organization, research ethics, and resilience in the face of fieldwork challenges. Among the main obstacles encountered were difficulties in locating participants due to frequent changes in phone numbers and addresses, as well as low adherence to follow-up. The experience reinforces the role of undergraduate research in the academic and personal development of students in the health field.