Family poverty, neuropsychomotor development and children’s play in the insular and continental regions of Belém

Abstract

The aim this study was to identify associations between family poverty, the neuropsychomotor development and children plays in the Belém city. This was a cross-sectional and exploratory descriptive study. The neurodevelopment was screening for the Denver II Test. A questionnaire to identify the family’s socioeconomic conditions and plays characteristics and an instrument to measure the level of family poverty. Statistical analysis used the χ2 test with 95% confidence interval and α = 5%. Of the 319 children assessed, 77.7% showed a suspected delay in neuropsychomotor developmental. The variable type of play was statistically significantly associated with family poverty level (p=.01), and geographic context association with play spaces (p=.004). It is hoped that this study contributes to the understanding of the importance of play in development contexts of family poverty and regions with specific characteristics as the Amazon and adequacy of public policies.