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Physical activity among children with down syndrome: maternal perception
Salmah Alghamdi1, Maram Banakhar2, Hanan Badr1
1Maternity and Childhood Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Summary
Mothers perceive physical activity challenges for children with Down syndrome (DS). Understanding these barriers and facilitators is key to developing effective interventions for promoting physical activity in children with DS.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Children with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit high rates of physical inactivity and obesity.
- Maternal perspectives are crucial for understanding activity patterns in children with DS.
- Limited research exists on physical activity facilitators and barriers for children with DS in Saudi Arabia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore mothers' perceptions of physical activity levels in children with Down syndrome.
- To identify the perceived needs, benefits, facilitators, and barriers related to physical activity for children with DS.
- To inform the development of targeted interventions for improving physical activity engagement in this population.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive qualitative study design.
- Semi-structured interviews conducted with 17 mothers of children with Trisomy 21 (DS) aged 3–17 years.
- Thematic analysis employed to analyze qualitative data.
Main Results:
- Identified key themes including physical functioning, daily physical activity at home and school, perceived benefits, facilitators, and barriers.
- Mothers provided insights into the specific challenges and enablers of physical activity for their children.
- Physical functioning and environmental factors emerged as significant considerations.
Conclusions:
- Findings offer valuable insights for healthcare professionals working with children with DS.
- Understanding facilitators and barriers is essential for designing tailored intervention programs.
- Interventions should aim to enhance support and engagement in regular physical activities for children with DS.
