Administration of the National Screening Test (PRUNAPE) at home level in inner cities

The administration of the National Screening Test (Prueba Nacional de Pesquisa, PRUNAPE) at households with unmet basic needs (UBNs) can be associated with a high proportion of false positive results. In order to reduce such proportion, the adequacy of the household was assessed in a survey conducted in 2012 by the Environmental Health Division of ACUMAR in La Matanza and Florencio Varela districts, based on five factors: uneven floor, scarce space according to certain PRUNAPE guidelines, environmental noise, privacy, and lack of necessary furniture. If household conditions were inadequate, the PRUNAPE was administered in a trailer located nearby; if the child was "non collaborative" at home, the test was readministered in the trailer. Psychomotor development was evaluated in 2174 children younger than 6 years old. All surveyed households were adequate for the administration of the PRUNAPE. In households, 98 children (4.4%) were "non collaborative" with the PRUNAPE and were referred to the trailer; 58 (59%) of them attended the trailer and 28 (48%) passed the test. The PRUNAPE may be administered in the field, in households with unmet basic needs provided the described precautions are taken.