Early nutritional history and motor performance of Senegalese children, 4-6 years of age

The effects of undernutrition on motor coordination and performance of 139 4.0-6.5 year-old Senegalese children were studied. The sample was partition ed into three nutritional history groups: 54 children exposed chronically t o a mild-to-moderate form of undernutrition (group A), 52 children hospital ized for severe undernutrition during infancy and nutritionally rehabilitat ed but who had been subsequently exposed to moderate undernutrition (group B); and 33 children from well-off urban households (group C). Tests include d six items from the McCarthy (arm coordination) and the Charlop-Atwell (gr oss motor coordination) scales, and five motor fitness items (endurance run , shuttle run, distance throw, standing long jump, grip strength). Performa nces improved with age, and boys performed better than girls in all motor f itness tests except the jump, but not in motor coordination items. In gener al, group C performed better than group A and B in most of the tests. Body dimensions explained a significant part of variance of motor performance, a nd stature was the main predictor. After removing the effect of age and bod y size, differences between nutritional groups disappeared in motor perform ance, but persisted in certain motor coordination items. It is concluded th at chronic undernutrition reflected by reduced body size and perhaps muscle mass is an important determinant of the motor performance of preschool Sen egalese children.