Comparação dos determinantes de risco para o desenvolvimento infantil entre pré-escolares de escola pública e particular na cidade do Recife/PE Comparison of determinants of risk on child development in preschool between public and private school at Recife/PE

Objective: To compare the determinants of risk among preschool children in public and private schools in the city of Recife. Method: A questionnaire was used, which was applied to parents or legal guardian of the child by means of questioning, to identify the socio-economic and demographic factors of children who attend public and private school. The study included all children of both genders, aged four to six years, attending school regularly, from April to August 2010, and excluded children who had some neurological injury or osteoarticular deformities, vision or hearing deficiency. The sample had 40 children, composed by 20 from public schools and 20 from particular ones. Results: The children in public school were more exposed to the risk determinants for child development than those in private schools. Conclusion: Therefore, it is stressed the importance of the presence of health professionals with the school staff in order to identify very early these determinants and preventive actions for the normal development of the child.