The practice of occupational therapy with the child population: literature review of the period from 1999 to 2009

Abstract

This article is on the work developed by occupational therapists with the children in Brazil. A literature review of articles produced between 1999 and 2009 was conducted in the following databases: Latin-American and Caribbean Literature of Health Sciences, Scientific Electronic Library Online, and the periodic Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional da UFSCar. Data were analyzed based on authorship, year, periodical, kind of work, methodology/model of attention, problematic and institution/place of work. 84 articles were identified, most of which were productions linked to universities, especially from the Southeast. The works with children are developed within the fields of health, education and social assistance. Experience reports and research articles were among the most common type of articles found. The methodologies employed in research studies are usually observational and descriptive studies and clinical trials. The interventions listed in the experience reports were individual and group care and the use of leisure activities, among others. Among the 12 issues listed, the most studied were the attention to children in social risk situation and in process of illness and hospitalization, school inclusion, playing, models and instruments of evaluation and activities and therapeutic resources. The study allowed an overview of occupational therapists' work with children from the viewpoint and strategies chosen by the authors in their studies.