Eye health day care centers: Factors related to the preparation of child day care providers

Summary

Objective: To identify the preparation of child day care providers regarding preschool eye health, in order to develop training programs for the detection of childhood visual disturbances in a day care setting. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed through self-applied questionnaires, based on an exploratory study. The sample population comprised 842 childcare providers in the south region of the district of São Paulo. Variables studied included receiving orientation regarding eye health, self-evaluation of personal preparation and responsibility for implementing eye health programs in the day care center. Results: No training for ocular health programs was provided for 88.0% of the respondents; though 92.0% declared such training was important to improve the care provided; irrespective of the degree of preparation regarding ocular health, they attributed responsibility for applying visual acuity tests to the health services (x² calc 2.41; x² crit 7.82). A significant association was observed between having received ocular health training and a positive self evaluation of personal preparation regarding this theme. Referral for specialized consultation was a practice reported by those childcare providers that felt they were better prepared in relation to eye health activities. Conclusions: The majority had not received ocular health training, although they recognized its importance; they were demonstrated to have insufficient preparation in this area but, irrespective of such training, they attributed responsibility for the application of visual acuity tests to the health services. This suggests the need to implement ocular health training programs for child day care providers.

UNITERMS: health promotion - preschool - prevention of blindness - ocular health programs - visual acuity