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Evaluating motor performance with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of motor proficiency in impoverished Pakistani
Zehra Habib Hasan1, Fariha Shaheen1, Arjumand Rizvi1
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Insights
The Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test effectively identifies motor delays in Pakistani preschoolers affected by malnutrition and poverty. This tool is reliable for assessing motor performance in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Motor Assessment
Background:
- Malnutrition and poverty significantly impact child development, particularly motor skills.
- Early identification of motor deficits is crucial for timely intervention.
- The Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test (BFBOT) is a widely used tool for assessing motor abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the sensitivity of the modified Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test (BFBOT) in detecting motor differences.
- To evaluate the BFBOT's effectiveness in identifying motor impairments linked to malnutrition and socioeconomic factors in young children.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal cohort study involving 1058 Pakistani children aged 0-2 years.
- Data collected on motor development using the BFBOT, child anthropometry, and household socioeconomic indicators.
- Statistical analysis performed using SPSS 15 and STATA 12.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between malnutrition (stunting, underweight), poverty, and lower scores on a 6-item motor composite of the BFBOT (p<0.05).
- Maternal illiteracy and food insecurity were also significantly linked to poorer motor outcomes.
- The study identified specific risk factors contributing to motor development delays.
Conclusions:
- The 6-item motor composite of the BFBOT is a sensitive and reliable measure for assessing motor performance in Pakistani preschool children.
- The BFBOT can effectively identify children at risk for motor delays due to malnutrition and socioeconomic disadvantage.
- Findings support the use of the BFBOT in clinical and research settings for early detection of motor impairments.
Objective:
To evaluate the sensitivity of the modified Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test in identifying motor differences secondary to malnutrition and poverty.
Methods:
This longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Nowshero Feroze, Sindh from 2013 to 2014 and comprised data drawn from children who participated in a randomised controlled trial, that assessed responsive stimulation and nutrition interventions in the first two years of life. Outcome measures included motor development assessed using Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test, child anthropometry and household economic and demographic information. Data was analysed using SPSS 15 and STATA 12.
Results:
Of the 1058 children, 570(53%) were boys. Moderate-severe stunting was reported in 171(16.12%) subjects, while moderate-severe underweight was reported in 117(11.1%). Also, 591(56%) subjects belonged to poor families, 343(32%) had illiterate mothers, and 392(37%) were food-insecure. Malnutrition, socio-economic status and maternal literacy were significantly associated with a 6-item motor composite of the Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
The 6-item motor composite of the Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test was found to be a reliable tool to measure motor performance in Pakistani pre-school children.
