title: Perception of association between normal development and environmental stimulation by mothers of children in the first three years of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the perception of mothers with children aged zero to three years old on the association between environmental stimulation and normal development of these children assisted at a Health Unit in São Luís, Maranhão, Northeast Brazil, and to identify the level of maternal understanding on the stimulation of the family environment in which the child is inserted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative research that enrolled 15 mothers of children aged zero to three years old treated in the Health Unit Antonio Carlos Reis, Cidade Olímpica, in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, from October 2009 to March 2010. Data collection instruments were medical records, semi-structured interviews applied in household with parents, participant observations, and home visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most mothers were teenagers, single, did not work outside the household, had incomplete primary education, and family income from 0 to 0.5 minimum wage. The main difficulties were: lack of preparation to raise their children, low level of resolution of everyday situations, and father absence on family life. It was identified how mothers associated environmental deprivation with normal child development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mothers presented perception on the environment in which their children lived and that the lack of stimulation in these places affected the children's development. Therefore, there is a need for improved levels of stimulation and of the links between child, family, and health professionals.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, MA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lila Isabel C
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Cibelle Dutra
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Tamara Santiago
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Mascarenhas
authors.forename: Joyce Pinheiro L
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Luciane Maria O
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Brito
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment