New Brazilian developmental curves and reference values for the Alberta infant motor scale
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Published on: May 17, 2024
Raquel Saccani1, Nadia Cristina Valentini2, Keila R G Pereira3
1Human Movement Science - Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; University of Caxias do Sul, Health Science Department, Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Insights
This study established reference values for the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) for Brazilian infants, revealing differences compared to Canadian norms and aiding in motor development assessment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Motor Development
Background:
- The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is crucial for assessing infant motor development.
- Lack of Brazilian-specific norms limits AIMS's accuracy in identifying motor delays in Brazilian infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and establish normative reference values for the AIMS specifically for Brazilian infants.
- To enable precise categorization of motor development and identification of motor difficulties in this population.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with infants aged 0-18 months.
- Infants were assessed by trained professionals in diverse settings including daycares, homes, and health centers.
Main Results:
- AIMS raw scores increased with age from 0 to 15 months, stabilizing thereafter.
- Brazilian infants showed lower AIMS scores at specific ages compared to the Canadian sample.
- Norms were established for Brazilian infants, highlighting cultural variations in motor performance.
Conclusions:
- Canadian and Brazilian children exhibit differences in AIMS motor performance scores across age groups.
- Establishing culturally relevant reference values for the AIMS is essential for accurate infant motor assessment.
- These findings support the adaptation of developmental assessment tools across different cultural contexts.
Introduction:
The lack of Brazilian norms restrains the use of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) to precisely categorize infant motor development and discriminate infants with motor difficulties from typically developing infants.
Objective:
This study investigated reference values for the AIMS for Brazilian infants.
Methods:
Descriptive, cross-sectional study of infants from birth-to-18 months old. Trained professionals assessed infants in daycares, homes, and governmental health centers.
Results:
Results showed increases in raw scores across age groups from 0- to 15-months of age. The stability of raw scores was observed after 16 months of age. Brazilian infants demonstrated lower scores in specific ages compared to the Canadian sample.
Conclusions:
Canadian and Brazilian children showed differences in motor performance scores across age and norms were established for Brazilian infants. This study highlights the importance to establish reference values for AIMS of infants across cultures.
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