HOW PROFESSIONALS IN A FAMILY HEALTH UNIT VIEW THE PARTIPATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN CHILDCARE

Abstract

This work aimed to analyze the importance of the physiotherapist in Well-child care within a unity family healthcare according to the vision of the health professionals. A descriptive study with exploratory and qualitative approaches was conducted. For that, a survey was performed with twenty-five professionals from a unity family health care in João Pessoa city, Paraíba, Brazil. All of the respondents recognized the importance of the physiotherapist in Well-child care, and the analysis about the vision of the public on the role of the physiotherapist in that field allowed the organization of four categories: Early diagnosis and treatment of children; Prevention of diseases and other health problems; Orientation to mothers; and Evaluation of child development. Although the unity family healthcare chosen for this study does not present a physiotherapist within the multidisciplinary team, the professionals have realized that, the insertion of the physiotherapist for acting in well-childcare in partnership with the group would be of a great value, especially for the integrality of the children’s healthcare.

Descriptors: Child Healthcare; Infant Healthcare; Physiotherapy; Primary Healthcare.