HEALTH PROFILE OF CHILDREN CARED FOR IN N URSERIES AND THE PREVENTIONOF COMMUNICATION DISTURBS

For the purpose of characterizing the health of the population assiste d by the Nursery Program (Programa Creche) at the three units financed by the city authorities of S. Paulo, Brazil, an enquiry was undertake n. A questionnaire consisting of both open and closed question concern ing personal identification, personal antecedents, development and hea lth was prepared and 133 of them were applied. Results indicated that children whose living conditions were unsatisfactory (humid and overcr owded housing) have presented respiratory infections and otitis in gre ater numbers. Most of the children were breast-fed at first but starte d being nursed artificially when two months old. Salty and varied text ure foods were introduced at the appropriate ages and well accepted. L anguage delay is related predominantly to ages 3 to 7. Parents act pro perly lin communication situations. It is considered that the systemat ic use of the questionaire proposed will permit not only better knowle dge of the health of the children, benefitting the multidisciplinary a ttendance and integration of the child, as also the improvement of pre ventive practices and make the surveillance of difficulties in communi cation possible.