Abstract

HERNANDEZ RINCON, Erwin; PARRA BELTRAN, Leonardo  and  CORREAL MUNOZ, Camilo. Training needs for comprehensive early childhood development: perspective from a regional study. Salud, Barranquilla [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.2, pp.284-294. ISSN 0120-5552.

Objective: To characterize the strengths and weaknesses of the training programs of health professionals for the development of skills in Healthcare for Integral Development (HID) in early childhood, in 16 municipalities of Cundinamarca and Boyacá (Colombia). Methods: A mixed-methods descriptive study (quantitative and qualitative), carried out through interviews (n = 126) and focus groups (n = 3) with health professionals in training, key informant interviews (n = 3), revision of curriculum content (n = 9), surveys of health professionals (n = 111) and companions (n = 111), and medical record review (n = 54), related to the care of early childhood. The results were analyzed according to four domains: preparation for life, everyday practices for health care, safety and bodily integrity and early education. Results: It is highlighted the inclusion of content on life skills and daily practices for health care, as well as the orientation of the curriculum toward comprehensive care; and the absence of contents on security and bodily integrity, and early education. An important element of comprehensive care refers to the knowledge of the warning signs on the part of families, but 40 % of these families have not received this information from health professionals. Finally, the environment, support networks and other vulnerabilities are little explored in health services. Conclusions: It is highlighted the orientation toward comprehensive care in health training programs. Comprehensive care can strengthen the health professional training from the capabilities of being and knowing.

Keywords : health manpower; health education; primary health care; child health.

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