PRUNAPE: pesquisa de trastornos del desarrollo psicomotor en el primer nivel de atención

information on prevalence, type of problems on psychomotor development (ppd) and conceptions of the professionals and parents that take part of a screening project was obtained by implementing a national screening test for ppd in 839 apparently healthy children aged 0-5 years attending three health centers in san isidro. parents and professionals conceptions about the test and programme were studied with qualitative research approach. the test was administered by three previously trained pediatricians. general failure rate was 20.0%. out of a total number of 170 children failing the test and referred to hospital for diagnosis and treatment, only 96 complied and went through a series of studies carried out by a multidisciplinary team for diagnosis, classified according to dsm-iv: global developmental delay: 60 children, pervasive disorders: 11, communication disorders: 10, motor disorders: 6 (2 children with cerebral palsy), attention deficit disorders: 5, attachment disorders: 2, normal children: 3. co-morbidity was present in 22 affected children. forty-three per cent of children failing the test did not comply with the indication of hospital referral or did not complete the studies. qualitative investigation helped to understand the key role played by parents and professionals participating in the screening process. the fact that there are now 96 children with developmental disorders under treatment, supports the validity of the screening procedure implemented.