Abstract
Children in situations of destitution who become institutionalized commonly display developmental disorders, including delayed growth. The aim was to evaluate the environmental quality of the casas cuna of the Department of Chuquisaca (Plurinational state of Bolivia) in children aged 0 to 2 years old after receiving an early stimulation program based on psychomotor therapy. Thirty-six children who were institutionalized at shelter homes in the Department of Chuquisaca were selected to receive sessions of psychomotricity over a five-month period. The Infant/Toddler Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (IT-HOME) scale and the Attachment During Stress Scale (ADS) were used. The adult−child relationship with factors of responsiveness (−0.89; p = 0.037), acceptance (0.57; p = 0.024), organization (−1.03; p < 0.001), learning material (−2.57; p < 0.001) and involvement (−1.92; p < 0.001) scored below expectations, showing that environmental indicators are a poor stimulation for children growing up in shelter homes. Improvements were found in the children’s development after receiving this therapy. In conclusion, an early stimulation program based on psychomotor therapy over five months provided favorable results for the acquisition of skills for communication, motor development and social skills, which positively affect the psychomotor development.
Highlights
A child’s surrounding environment has a major impact on their life as this marks the first childhood experiences, thereafter influencing their response to both personal and external needs, ranging from their relationship with adults/parents/caregivers to social demands that start with secularization and future adult life [1]
Measuring the quality of the environment among children living in shelter homes and at psychosocial risk is important with regard to both the child’s physical and mental health [2,3]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental quality of the casas cuna of the Department of Chuquisaca (Plurinational state of Bolivia) among children from 0 to 2 years of age after receiving an intervention program based on psychomotor therapy
Summary
A child’s surrounding environment has a major impact on their life as this marks the first childhood experiences, thereafter influencing their response to both personal and external needs, ranging from their relationship with adults/parents/caregivers to social demands that start with secularization and future adult life [1]. Measuring the quality of the environment among children living in shelter homes and at psychosocial risk is important with regard to both the child’s physical and mental health [2,3]. Childhood attachment is an emotional closeness that allows the child to develop a sense of security and protection towards the world and is currently considered to be a vital condition in ensuring healthy. Public Health 2020, 17, 4191; doi:10.3390/ijerph17124191 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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