Abstract
BackgroundPhysical activity is a key component of exploration and development. Poor motor proficiency, by limiting participation in physical and social activities, can therefore contribute to poor psychological and social development. The current study examined the correlates of motor performance in a setting where no locally validated measures of motor skills previously existed. The development of an appropriate assessment schedule is important to avoid the potential misclassification of children’s motor performance.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among a predominantly rural population. Boys (N = 148) and girls (N = 160) aged between 8 and 11 years were randomly selected from five schools within Kilifi District in Kenya. Four tests of static and dynamic balance and four tests of motor coordination and manual dexterity were developed through a 4-step systematic adaptation procedure. Independent samples t-tests, correlational, univariate and regression analyses were applied to examine associations between background variables and motor scores.ResultsThe battery of tests demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. Variability in motor performance was significantly associated with a number of background characteristics measured at the child, (gender, nutritional status and school exposure) household (household resources) and neighbourhood levels (area of residence). The strongest effect sizes were related to nutritional status and school exposure.ConclusionsThe current study provides preliminary evidence of motor performance from a typically developing rural population within an age range that has not been previously studied. As well as being culturally appropriate, the developed tests were reliable, valid and sensitive to biological and environmental correlates. Further, the use of composite scores seems to strengthen the magnitude of differences seen among groups.
Highlights
Physical activity is a key component of exploration and development
The pattern of motor performance observed in the current study was unexpected as children living in the more rural areas had significantly lower scores on the Hopping in Squares Test
The use of composite scores seems to strengthen the magnitude of differences seen among groups
Summary
By limiting participation in physical and social activities, can contribute to poor psychological and social development. The processes that take place in gross and fine motor development allow children to explore the spatial properties of their environment and the functional properties of the objects in it. The consequent lack of locally validated measures of motor development for school-age children may limit the reliability of measurement and lead to mis-classification of children (van de Vijver and Tanzer 2004; Connolly and Grantham-McGregor 1993). Given the widely reported precocity of motor development among African children (Warren 1972; Super 1976), existing norms for measures published in western settings may not be appropriate.
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