Health care practices carried out to children of a rural community

Objective:to know the health care practices performed to children who live in a rural area of Canguçu, Rio Grande do Sul. Method:this is a qualitative study. The data were collected from May to September 2014. The participants were 14 families of farmers from a rural area, totaling 25 respondents. Results:The food was the most relevant care practice for the children's health, being an everyday action that ranges from caring for food production to self-consumption, to food preparation. In addition, medicinal plants are used in the early care ofchildren for different symptoms. Final thoughts:the care given to children is influenced by family experience, and also by the scientific knowledge through health professionals. In view of this, professionals must have theoretical and practical knowledgeto perform child care and to understand the practices performed, such as the use of medicinal plants.