Psychomotor evaluation of children attending Child Education Centers in the south of Brazil

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the neurological/psychomotor development of children aged 0–5 years attending Child Education Centers in Brazil.

Method: This developmental assessment included a screening test to identify which variables could be associated with risks for developmental delays. A total of 444 children were evaluated using the Denver II, which examines the personal-social, language, fine motor-adaptive, and gross motor domains. To demonstrate associations between variables, the chi-square test for k-proportions was used, followed by a logistic regression model.

Results: The evaluation indicated a risk for developmental delay in 45.9% of the children, with the personal-social and language domains being the most affected. The influence of the school environment and age group on child development was noted.

Conclusions: These data are of great importance in that they serve to provide a basis for the identification and monitoring of the achievements of children.

KEYWORDS:

• Child development
• Preschool
• Primary health care
• physical Therapy
• psychomotor performance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bruna Yamaguchi

Bruna Yamaguchi is PhD student in physical activity and health by postgraduate program in Physical Education of the Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Brazil. Bachelor’s at Physiotherapy from UFPR and professional specialist in Neurofunctional physiotherapy from Inspirar college. Physiotherapist at public health service in Tijucas do Sul city, in state of Paraná, in the southern Brazil. She teaches postgraduate courses in neurological physiotherapy.

Adriano Zanardi Silva

Adriano Zanardi da Silva is PhD student in physical activity and health by postgraduate program in Physical Education of the Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Brazil. Bachelor’s at Physiotherapy from UFPR.

Luize Bueno Araujo

Luize Bueno de Araujo is PhD student in physical activity and health by postgraduate program in Physical Education of the Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Brazil. Master in motor behavior by postgraduate program in Physical Education of UFPR. Improvement in Physical Rehabilitation at the Association for Assistance to Disabled Children (AACD). Professional Specialist in Neurofunctional physiotherapy in children and adolescentes (COFFITO/ABRAFIN). She teaches postgraduate courses in neurological physiotherapy.

Ana Tereza Bittencourt Guimarães

Dr. Ana Tereza Bittencourt Guimarães is an associate professor of Biological Sciences and Health Center at State University of Western Paraná in the south of Brazil. There she teaches undergraduate courses in Biolgical Sciences and Bioscences graduate courses on research biostatistics. Her research explores diverse learners across the biostatistical in Biosciences and Health.

Vera Lúcia Israel

Vera Lúcia Israel is professor at the Department of Physical Therapy at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), in the south of Brazil, graduated in Physical Therapy and Physical Education. PhD and Master’s Degree in Special Education at Federal University of Súo Carlos (UFSCar).