Keywords
Games and toys
Primary health care
Caregivers
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate factors associated with infant play in primary care and the knowledge of their caregivers. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 57 caregivers of infants enrolled in a Family Health Unit in Recife, Brazil. A questionnaire was applied addressing the biological, socioeconomic, and demographic profile of children and caregivers, play characteristics, and Likert-scale statements to assess caregiver knowledge. Data were double-entered into Excel 2013, and statistical analysis was performed using STATA 12.0, considering p≤0.05 as significant. Results: Fifty-seven caregivers participated, mostly women and mothers, with a mean age of 32 years and completed high school. The infants had a mean age of 11 months; most played at home and outdoors, mainly with structured toys and household objects; 64.3% used electronic devices. All caregivers recognized the benefits of play for health and learning, but 57.9% disagreed that babies can play from the first week of life. A significant association was found between caregivers under 24 years old and lower perception of early play (p=0.026), as well as between educational level and perception of early play (p=0.028), electronic device use (p=0.001), and appreciation of unstructured objects as toys (p=0.003). Conclusion: Gaps in knowledge about early play reinforce the need for educational actions in primary care to promote healthy play experiences from birth.
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