Exploratory Study on Infant Development under Institutional Sheltering in the North Region of Brazil

Abstract

This study analyzed the child development through mental, motor, and behavioral assessment of twenty babies with ages from 1 to 12 months, who were part of an institutional sheltering service in the North region of Brazil. The babies were conveniently selected; the criteria were the absence of neurological problems and to be housed in the institution for longer than one month. The instrument used was the Bayley Scale of Infant Development (BSID-II). The socio-demographic data of the sample indicated that babies were welcomed in the institution for either reasons, family abandonment or negligence, in addition, their stay in the shelter has already lasted from one to nine months, and 50% of them had drug-abusing mothers. The assessment of the scales indicated that 70% of babies, in average, had performances in the normal limits of development, and 30% of them presented problems. The results contribute to demonstrating the use of this assessment method such as supporting institutional measures in elaborating the individual assistance plan, along with other information as social, family, and medical history, aiming at offering quality assistance directed to the development of babies and children assisted by institutions.