Psychomotor Evaluation of Children Attending Child Education Centers in the South of Brazil

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.