THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC CENTERS AND DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN A MUNICIPALITY JEQUITINHONHA VALLEY: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Background: Studies indicate that daycare centers can promote advantages for the development of socially disadvantaged children, when the services provided are of quality. Objectives: a) To evaluat the quality of public daycare environments in one municipality Valley Jequitinhonha b) To characterize the overall development of disadvantaged children; c) To check connection between the quality of educational environments and child development. Methodology: The quality of day care environments was evaluated by the Infant / Toddler Environment Rating Scale and the overall development of 44 children, 0-56 months, at DENVER II.  Results: The quality daycare environments presented values between "inadequate" and "minimal." In all nurseries found the percentage of children with developmental delay and half of the children had flaws in items related to language. The Spearman correlation analysis confirms negative and weak / moderate quality of day care and personal-social domain. Conclusion: Health professionals, in partnership with education professionals, day care centers may offer an environment rich in stimuli for promoting child development.