Developmental co-ordination disorder in socially disadvantaged Brazilian children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric neurology
• Developmental psychology
• Motor control

Background:

• Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) necessitates early identification for effective intervention.
• Understanding DCD prevalence and motor difficulties is crucial for at-risk and typically developing children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate DCD prevalence across age, gender, race, and school performance.
• To assess motor difficulties using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) in children with and without DCD.
• To examine the relationship between motor outcomes, age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) in disadvantaged Brazilian children.

Main Methods:

• The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) was administered to 1056 Brazilian children aged 4-10 years.
• Prevalence rates for probable DCD (≤5th percentile) and at-risk DCD (>5th to ≤15th percentile) were calculated.
• Motor performance was analyzed across age bands, gender, and in relation to SES.

Main Results:

• 18% of children screened as probable DCD; 15% as at-risk.
• Higher prevalence of probable DCD in 9-10 year olds; boys showed lower prevalence than girls.
• Children with DCD and at-risk children exhibited poor performance in balance and manual dexterity; low SES was the strongest predictor of motor outcomes (21% variance).

Conclusions:

• Prevalence of probable and at-risk DCD cases, and the proportion of females, were higher than previously reported.
• Low socioeconomic status significantly exacerbates the risk of poor motor development in children.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions for DCD, particularly in socially disadvantaged populations.