Prevalence of children identified with motor difficulties¹

Abstract

Introduction

Motor coordination assessment enables to identify the motor difficulties in the skills of children. Through this identification, we discuss the impact of these difficulties on motor development and the factors that interfere in this process.

Objective

To identify the prevalence of children with motor difficulties in a sample from Fortaleza/CE and to identify in which motor components these difficulties are more evident.

Method

Four hundred and twenty-three children aged 7-10 years old, both genders and from elementary school were assessed by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2) and identified with Motor Difficulties, Risk at a motor difficulty and Typical Development. We used a Qui-square analysis to identify the differences between genders regarding the prevalence of children identified in these categories. We used Student’s T and Mann-Whitney U test to analyze differences between genders regarding motor components scores (Manual Dexterity, Throw and Receive and Balance) and MABC-2 total score.

Results

11.6% of the children had Motor Difficulties and 25.8% had Risk for motor difficulty. Although there was no difference between the prevalence of girls and boys identified with Motor Difficulties, girls performed better than boys in the Manual dexterity and Balance components, while boys performed better than girls on the Throwing and Catching component.

Conclusion

The prevalence of children identified with Motor Difficulties in the sample from Fortaleza is similar to other studies in Brazilian regions. This prevalence is worrisome, considering the consequences caused by the motor difficulties. Environmental factors, related to the socio-cultural context, can influence motor development.

Keywords:
Child Development; Motor Skills Disorders; Brazil