Prevalence of possible developmental coordination disorder among Grade 1 learners in low socio-economic environments in Mangaung, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) affects motor skills and consequently has an impact on the performance in daily living activities of learners with this impairment.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of possible DCD in Grade 1 (Gr. 1) learners in a low socio-economic environment in Mangaung, South Africa.Setting: The study was conducted in the Mangaung Metro, Motheo District, Free State Province. Gr. 1 learners, 6–8 years old (n = 242), from a low socio-economic environment attending Quintile 1–3 schools were randomly selected for assessment.Methods: The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd edition (MABC-2) was used to identify learners with possible DCD. Furthermore, results were compared with regard to gender.Results: Of the 242 learners, 9.9% were identified with possible DCD. With regard to gender, 10.5% of boys and 9.3% of girls showed signs of possible DCD. No significant difference (p = 0.9439) has been found between boys and girls.Conclusion: The prevalence of possible DCD among Gr. 1 learners in this setting was higher than that in previously reported studies in other low and high socio-economic environments of South Africa. Further research is required to establish the full extent of possible DCD within learners living in low socio-economic environments.

Exploring Cultural Bias in Two Different Motor Competence Test Batteries When Used in African Children

“…Children in different countries will perform different daily tasks, each with different facilitators and barriers in their environments [ 28 , 38 , 39 ]. DCD has been reported to be more prevalent in low-resourced areas, therefore, differences in percentage are to be expected [ 40 ]. Children in the current sample live in the settings where they often experience limitations with equipment, coaching and space as barriers to participate in physical activities, such as sports.…”

“…Children in the current sample live in the settings where they often experience limitations with equipment, coaching and space as barriers to participate in physical activities, such as sports. This in turn limits their development of coordinated motor skills [ 40 ]. In particular, art and crafts, and handwriting training is less rigorous due to space (more children in one bench with rough surface or floor seating) and material limitations.…”