Understanding child development and care integrality: Primary Health Care doctors and nurses' view

To identify perceptions of primary care health professionals regarding the conceptual aspects of child development and propose strategies to address difficulties.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in a small municipality in the countryside of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The primary health care in this region is comprised of Family Health Units and Basic Health Units. The sample included 52 participants, consisting of doctors and primary care nurses. A questionnaire with open and closed questions was utilized, covering knowledge and practices related to child development. For this study, the first question of the questionnaire, which asked for a descriptive response about participants' understanding of child development, was employed. The responses were transcribed, and content analysis using the thematic approach was conducted.

Among the participants, 54% were nurses, and the average duration of working with the pediatric population was ten years. 80% reported never having undergone training in child development. The analysis of the responses revealed heterogeneity in the professionals' understanding of the conceptual dimension of child development. Additionally, there was an insufficient grasp of the theoretical and practical aspects and a scarcity of resources to support comprehensive care for children. A predominant biomedical model focusing on disease and biological aspects of child health was evident in defining the understanding of the subject.

The findings underscore the necessity of implementing health education initiatives and service projects in primary care settings. It is crucial to strengthen a comprehensive perspective of child health within the biopsychosocial model of the health-disease process.