Assessing the quality of follow-up of children from birth to 6 years of age in the Cascais Health Centre

Abstract

Child health surveillance activities are designed to prevent disease, to perform early diagnosis of problems stunting growth and development and to promote childrens health. Aim: To assess the quality of medical and nursing care at the Child Health clinic of three units of the Cascais Health Center. Methods: Internal retrospective audit covering children born in 1995 bearing a Health Center registration at the onset of the study, as well as the Child Health teams. Results: Children at risk followed exclusively at the Health Center showed better results in fulfilling the surveillance schedule (80%) than children not at risk (66,67%); a reduction of health examinations in both groups was noted after the second year of life (48,26%), particularly for children four years old (25,86%). The national immunization program was carried out fully in 90% of children at risk. Discussion: Educational and structural corrective measures are suggested - a recall system for three year and four year health examinations; introduction of criteria for identification of children at risk; implementation of prenatal care measures for enhancing care to new mothers and newborns and to prevent, identify and follow up mother-child risk situations.