Association of risk factors with the development of gross motor skills

Diana Paola Montealegre Suárez,Marcos Roberto Tovani-Palone,Piedad Rocío Lerma Castaño

doi:10.29333/ejgm/112296

Abstract

Introduction:Proper development of gross motor skills in early childhood is considered as an important factor for the child’s development.Objectives:To determine the risk factors that influence the development of gross motor skills in children from 1 to 5 years of age from Neiva, Huila, Colombia.Methods:This was a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. The sample was composed of 240 children. The Abbreviated Development Scale (ADS) -3 was used for the assessment of gross motor skills. Furthermore, a questionnaire was designed to assess perinatal (prenatal and postnatal) risks, which was completed by mothers of children who participated in the study.Results:Around 15% of the assessed children in our study presented any risk (10.8%) or suspicion of developmental problems (3.8%) in gross motor skills. This was related to different factors including month of the first pregnancy visit, gestation time, important health conditions of the children and constant falls.Conclusion:The need for both clinical follow-up and implementation of effective health programs for children with delay in motor development should be very relevant.

Highlights

Proper development of gross motor skills in early childhood is considered as an important factor for the child’s development
Regarding the gross motor variable, we found that 85.4% of the children achieved the expected level of development for their age, 10.8% were at risk of developmental problems and 3.8% presented suspicion of developmental problems in gross motor skills
The present study examined the association of risk factors with the development of gross motor skills in children from 1 to 5 years of age from Neiva, Huila, Colombia

Summary

Introduction

Proper development of gross motor skills in early childhood is considered as an important factor for the child’s development. Results: Around 15% of the assessed children in our study presented any risk (10.8%) or suspicion of developmental problems (3.8%) in gross motor skills. This was related to different factors including month of the first pregnancy visit, gestation time, important health conditions of the children and constant falls. The delay of motor development is a condition of late onset, or related to absence of development of some or all of the motor skills [3] The occurrence of this disorder is due to several factors including environmental, biological, prenatal and perinatal risks to which the mother is exposed during pregnancy [4], as well as psychosocial factors such as low educational level, unwanted pregnancies, low birth weight, early pregnancies [5,6] and low socioeconomic level [7]. Some studies have shown that child maltreatment is related to a delay in development of gross motor skills [8]

Objectives

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Conclusion