Perinatal Risk Factors for Mild Motor Disability

Abstract

The aetiology of mild motor disability (MMD) is a complex issue and as yet is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of perinatal risk factors in a cohort of 10‐year‐old boys and girls with (n = 362) and without (n = 1193) MMD. Among the males with MMD there was a higher prevalence of postpartum haemorrhage, caesarean section, low birth weight and stressful first year of life. Among the females with MMD, there was a higher prevalence of essential hypertension, anaemia and threatened pre‐term. Multivariable logistic regression revealed gender (male), anaemia, threatened pre‐term birth (if female) and hypertension (if female) weakly explained MMD at 10 years. These results underscore the importance of considering gender differences in order to better understand the multiple influences on motor development.

Keywords:

• developmental coordination disorder
• gender differences
• motor disability
• maternal
• perinatal
• risk factors
• Raine Study

Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study and the whole Raine Study team, which includes data collectors, cohort managers, data managers, clerical staff, research scientists and volunteers. The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study is funded by the Raine Medical Research Foundation at the University of Western Australia, a grant from Healthway Western Australia, and supported by the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research (NHMRC Program grant).

The findings reported here are based on research conducted as part of Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (The Raine Study) funded by NHMRC under Grant No. 003209, and by the Raine Medical Research Foundation to the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research and no restrictions have been imposed on free access to, or publication of, the research data. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research. Opinions reflect those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the funding agency(ies). The author(s) had no financial or other conflicts of interest.