Original Research
Prevalence of possible developmental coordination disorder among Grade 1 learners in low socio-economic environments in Mangaung, South Africa
Submitted: 12 December 2019 | Published: 07 September 2020
About the author(s)
Alretha Margaretha du Plessis, Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaMonique de Milander, Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Frederick Francois Coetzee, Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Mariette Nel, Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 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.
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Crossref Citations
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 19 issue: 11 first page: 6788 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19116788