The motor behavior of infants exposed to socioeconomic barrier

• Grant number: 21/08295-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2021
• End date: October 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Eloisa Tudella
• Grantee: Gabriela Sardeli de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To identify whether infants of low socioeconomic status, that is, exposed to environmental barrier, presents delay in spontaneous motor behavior and/or in gross motor behavior when compared to infants who are not exposed to environmental barrier at 3 months of age. Methods: This cross-sectional study, with convenience sampling, will follow the guidelines of the Statement Guidelines for Observational Studies, and will be part of an independent project approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Federal University of São Carlos, (CAAE: 04097718.9.0000.5504). 132 3-month-old infants will participate, subdivided into Exposed Group (EG, n = 66), composed of full-term infants with low socioeconomic status, and No-Exposure Group (NEG, n = 66), composed of full-term infants with medium and high socioeconomic status, both according to the poverty income ratio classification. The assessment of spontaneous and gross motor behavior will be performed using the General Movements Assessment and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, respectively. Intraclass and Kappa correlation coefficient tests will be applied to verify inter and intra-rater reliability. And parametric and/or non-parametric tests to compare intergroup dependent variables (spontaneous motor behavior and gross motor behavior). A significance level of 5% will be used. Expected results: It is expected to find delay and/or risk for delay in spontaneous and/or gross motor behavior of full-term and low socioeconomic status infants at 3 months of age, and it is hypothesized that these may present lower variability and complexity of movements in spontaneous motor behavior. (AU)