OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate early childhood development, from two months to two years of age, based on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness, IMCI (or AIDPI in Portuguese) in the context of the Educational Program for Health Work (PET-Saúde). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 122 children two months to two years of age from the coverage area of the São Bernardo Health Center in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, in 2009. Data on the children´s development were obtained using two questionnaires: IMCI and the Children's Health Booklet (CSC in Portuguese). Early childhood development according to the IMCI classification was compared to the results with CSC. The authors also investigated potential associations between independent variables and developmental delay. RESULTS: The most frequent characteristics in the study population were low maternal schooling (62.1%), followed by relatives with mental disability (71.3%), and problems during the pregnancy (71.3%). Based on the IMCI classification, 61.5% of the study population was normal with some risk factor, 16.4% normal without any risk factor, 11.5% with possible delay, and 10.7% with probable childhood developmental delay. Agreement between the IMCI and CSC classifications was 0.34, kappa index - 0.12 (p = 0.98). There was no statistically significant association between the variables (daycare attendance; contact with emotional problems; maternal schooling; gestational age; and birth weight) and possible or probable early childhood developmental delay according to the IMCI classification. CONCLUSION: PET-Saúde, as a proposal for integration between education and work, provided an opportunity for contact and exchange of experiences between students and health professionals from various fields, working in a common project.
child development; child health; medical education; integrated management of childhood illness
