Family health program; proposal for identification of risk factors for neuropsychomotor development

Objectives: To investigate the occurrence of delayed neuropsychological and motor development in a community assisted through the Family Health Program and to evaluate its association with possible biological, environmental and socioeconomic risk factors. Methods: The sample consisted of 31 five-year-old children who were evaluated using the Neurological Development Test, following guidelines proposed by Coelho (1999)*. The study was carried out at the Family Health Program (FHP) center in the Brasilit area of Recife, PE, Brazil. Data were collected using a questionnaire that sought information on the child, its mother/guardian, the family's socioeconomic status and residence. Fisher's exact test was used for the statistical analysis of the results, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Appendicular coordination was the parameter with the highest frequency of deficits (90%) and static balance was the item least compromised (12.9%). The frequency of static balance deficits was higher among children who did not attend day care centers (p=0.0163) and among those who spent less time with their mother (p=0.0278). Motor persistence deficits were statistically associated with age of entry into day care (p=0.0415) and father-child time (p=0.0436). Conclusions: The FHP was not only a valuable setting for developing studies of this nature but also an appropriate setting for child development follow-up.Original Abstract: Objetivos: Este estudo teve por objetivos investigar a ocorrencia de atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor em uma comunidade assistida pelo Programa de Saude da Familia (PSF) e verificar a sua associacao com posslveis fatores de risco biologicos, ambientais e socioeconomicos. Metodos: A amostra constou de 31 criancas, com 5 anos de idade, que foram avaliadas por meio do exame neurologico evolutivo (ENE) segundo roteiro proposto por Coelho (1999)*. O local do estudo foi o PSF do bairro de Brasilit, na Cidade de Recife, PE, Brasil, e os dados foram coletados mediante questionario contendo informacoes sobre a crianca, sua mae ou responsavel, a situacao socioeconomica da famflia e o domicilio. Para analise estatistica dos resultados, utilizou-se o Qui-quadrado de associacao de Fisher, com nivel de significancia de 5%. Resultados: A coordenacao apendicular foi o parametro que apresentou a maior frequencia de deficit (90%), e o equilibrio estatico foi o item menos comprometido (12,9%). A frequencia de deficit no equilfbrio estatico foi mais elevada