OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge and practices regarding child development among physicians working in primary healthcare units. METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at primary healthcare units in Embu, São Paulo, Brazil. Study procedures: 1) Evaluation of knowledge: test consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions on child development applied to all 31 physicians who were providing pediatric care at the primary healthcare units; 2) Evaluation of practices: semi-structured interview applied to a sample of 154 mothers/caregivers of children aged up to 36 months during follow-up visits at primary healthcare units in the municipality. For the comparisons of categorical variables (evaluation/advices about development in visits of children at different ages), the chi-square test was employed. RESULTS: The mean number of correct responses among physicians was 14.8. The error rate for seven questions was greater than 30% (sensory development, language acquisition, physiology of the nervous system, clinical and laboratory diagnosis of congenital infections and innate errors of metabolism) and the rate of correct responses was greater than 85% for four questions (motor and personal-social development markers, risk factors and genetic syndromes). Regarding practices, in 69 (45%) visits, the doctor asked the mother/caregiver's opinion about the child's development; in 80 (52%), the mother/caregiver said that the doctor assessed the development; and in 64 (42%), the mother/caregiver said that the doctor advised them on practices for child's stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Faulty knowledge and practices regarding child development were identified among primary care professionals, indicating the need for continued education.
child development; health services evaluation; primary health care
