This analytical study aims to evaluate the factors associated to developmental delay in 8-12 months aged children, indicated as at risk at birth in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The instruments used were the Denver Development Screening Test II, anthropometric evaluation and questionnaires. Participated 220 children considered or not at risk at birth. A prevalence of 20.5% of potential delay in psychomotor development was found. Children who presented a risk of a suspicious DDST II were part of lower income families, were children of mothers who had gone to fewer than six prenatal visits and had inappropriate weight-age indicator. The data suggest the need of a rethinking of policies on child health, given that other criteria could be included in the risk conditions to the child at birth.
child development; Health public policy; Pediatric nursing; Child health