Effect of mobile phone usage duration during pregnancy on the general motor movements of infants

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptive statistics of the FMs, MOS, repertoire of co-occurring movements, posture and quality of other movements.

	Frequency	Percentage
Fidgety
F+	116	94.3
F–	2	1.6
AF	5	4.1
Total	123	100
MOS
Optimal (25–28)	116	94.3
Suboptimal (24)	7	5.7
Total	123	100
Repertoire of co-occurring movements
Age-adequate	119	96.7
Reduced	4	3.3
Total	123	100
Posture
Normal	115	93.5
Normal = Abnormal	8	6.5
Total	123	100
Quality of other movements
Normal > Abnormal	117	95.1
Normal = Abnormal	6	4.9
Total	123	100.0
Result
Normal	121	98.4
MND	2	1.6
Total	123	100.0

Table 2. Investigation of the infants of mothers with different durations of mobile phone usage (DOMFU) during the prenatal period in terms of FMs, MOS, repertoire of co-occurring movements, posture and quality of other movements.

		Duration of use				p Value
		Control	20 min	40 min	2 h
		(n = 31)	(n = 33)	(n = 31)	(n = 28)
FMs	F+	31 (100)	33 (100)	29 (93.5)	23 (82.1)	0.011
	F–	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (7.1)
	AF	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (6.5)	3 (10.7)
MOS	Optimal (25–28)	31 (100)	33 (100)	30 (96.8)	22 (78.6)	<0.001
	Sub-optimal (24)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (3.2)	6 (21.4)
Repertoire of co-occurring movements	Age-adequate	31 (100)	33 (100)	31 (100)	24 (85.7)	0.002
	Reduced	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	4 (14.3)
	Absent	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Posture	Normal	31 (100)	33 (100)	29 (93.5)	22 (78.6)	0.001
	Normal = Abnormal	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (6.5)	6 (21.4)
	Abnormal	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Quality of other movements	Normal > Abnormal	31 (100)	33 (100)	31 (100)	22 (78.6)	<0.001
	Normal = Abnormal	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	6 (21.4)
	Normal < Abnormal	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)

p < 0.05, Fisher’s exact chi-square test.

Table 3. Investigation of the F– and AF status of the infants’ FMs according to the MOS, repertoire, posture and quality of other movements and outcome.

	Fidgety		p Value
	Absent fidgety	Abnormal fidgety
	(n = 2)	(n = 5)
MOS
Optimal (25–28)	0 (0)	1 (20)	0.999
Sub-optimal (24)	2 (100)	4 (80)
Repertoire
Age-adequate	0 (0)	3 (60)	0.429
Reduced	2 (100)	2 (40)
Quality of other movements
Normal > Abnormal	0 (0)	2 (40)	0.999
Normal = Abnormal	2 (100)	3 (60)
Outcome
Normal	0 (0)	5 (100)	0.048
MND	2 (100)	0 (0)
Fisher’s exact chi-square test

Table 4. Analysis of the confounding factors according to the FMs, MOS, repertoire, posture and quality of other movements.

	Fidgety movement			MOS		Repertoire of co-occurring movements		Posture		Quality of other movements
	F+	F–	AF	Optimal (25–28)	Sub-optimal (24)	Age-adequate	Reduced	Normal	Normal = abnormal	Normal > abnormal	Normal = abnormal
Daily mobile phone usage frequency
Less than 2 times a day	8 (6.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	8 (6.9)	0 (0)	8 (6.7)	0 (0)	8 (7)	0 (0)	6 (6.1)	0 (0)
2–4 times a day	31 (26.7)	0 (0)	0 (0)	31 (26.7)	0 (0)	31 (26.1)	0 (0)	31 (27)	0 (0)	25 (25.5)	0 (0)
More than 2 times a day	45 (38.8)	2 (100)	5 (100)	45 (38.8)	7 (100)	48 (40.3)	4 (100)	44 (38.3)	8 (100)	39 (39.8)	6 (100)
Absent	32 (27.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	32 (27.6)	0 (0)	32 (26.9)	0 (0)	32 (27.8)	0 (0)	28 (28.6)	0 (0)
p		0.184		0.025		0.269		0.013		0.078
Abortion
Absent	95 (81.9)	2 (100)	2 (40)	95 (81.9)	4 (57.1)	96 (80.7)	3 (75)	94 (81.7)	5 (62.5)	95 (96.9)	4 (66.7)
1	12 (10.3)	0 (0)	0 (0)	12 (10.3)	0 (0)	12 (10.1)	0 (0)	12 (10.4)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
2	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	1 (20)	3 (2.6)	1 (14.3)	4 (3.4)	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	1 (12.5)	0 (0)	0 (0)
3	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	3 (2.5)	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
4 or more	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	2 (40)	3 (2.6)	2 (28.6)	4 (3.4)	1 (25)	3 (2.6)	2 (25)	3 (3.1)	2 (33.3)
p	0.041			0.029		0.378		0.041		0.259
Gestational age (weeks)
Term (37–42)	85 (73.3)	0 (0)	2 (40)	85 (73.3)	2 (28.6)	87 (73.1)	0 (0)	84 (73)	3 (37.5)	72 (73.5)	1 (16.7)
Post-term (42+)	3 (2.6)	0 (0	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	3 (2.5)	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	2 (2)	0 (0)
Premature (29–32)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (0.8)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (1)	0 (0)
Borderline premature (33–37)	27 (23.3)	2 (100)	3 (60)	27 (23.3)	5 (71.4)	28 (23.5)	4 (100)	27 (23.5)	5 (62.5)	23 (23.5)	5 (83.3)
p	0.086			0.051		0.011		0.130		0.163
Kinship
Absent	54 (46.6)	2 (100)	3 (60)	54 (46.6)	5 (71.4)	56 (47.1)	3 (75)	53 (46.1)	6 (75)	55 (47)	4 (66.7)
1st degree	44 (37.9)	0 (0)	2 (40)	44 (37.9)	2 (28.6)	45 (37.8)	1 (25)	44 (38.3)	2 (25)	44 (37.6)	2 (33.3)
2nd degree	11 (9.5)	0 (0)	0 (0)	11 (9.5)	0 (0)	11 (9.2)	0 (0)	11 (9.6)	0 (0)	11 (9.4)	0 (0)
Distant relative	5 (4.3)	0 (0)	0 (0)	5 (4.3)	0 (0)	5 (4.2)	0 (0)	5 (4.3)	0 (0)	5 (4.3)	0 (0)
No Kinship Same Village	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	2 (1.7)	0 (0)
p	0.902			0.752		0.805		0.668		0.884
Hypertension
Preeclampsia	23 (22.3)	0 (0)	2 (40)	23 (22.3)	2 (28.6)	25 (23.6)	0 (0)	23 (22.5)	2 (25)	19 (21.3)	1 (16.7)
Eclampsia	11 (10.7)	0 (0)	1 (20)	11 (10.7)	1 (4.3)	11 (10.4)	1 (25)	11 (10.8)	1 (12.5)	10 (11.2)	1 (16.7)
Not evaluated	6 (5.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	6 (5.8)	0 (0)	6 (5.7)	0 (0)	6 (5.9)	0 (0)	6 (6.7)	0 (0)
Absent	63 (61.2)	2 (100)	2 (40)	63 (61.2)	4 (57.1)	64 (60.4)	3 (75)	62 (60.8)	5 (62.5)	54 (60.7)	4 (66.7)
p	0.695			0.818		0.430		0.999		0.999
Birth
Normal spontaneous vaginal delivery	55 (47.4)	1 (50)	2 (40)	55 (47.4)	3 (42.9)	57 (47.9)	1 (25)	54 (47)	4 (50)	45 (45.9)	3 (50)
Emergency caesarean spinal anaesthesia	5 (4.3)	1 (50)	0 (0)	5 (4.3)	1 (14.3)	5 (4.2)	1 (25)	5 (4.3)	1 (12.5)	4 (4.1)	1 (16.7)
Emergency caesarean general anaesthesia	10 (8.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	10 (8.6)	0 (0)	10 (8.4)	0 (0)	10 (8.7)	0 (0)	8 (8.2)	0 (0)
Elective caesarean spinal anaesthesia	27 (23.3)	0 (0)	1 (20)	27 (23.3)	1 (14.3)	28 (23.5)	0 (0)	27 (23.5)	1 (12.5)	24 (24.5)	0 (0)
Elective caesarean general anaesthesia	19 (16.4)	0 (0)	2 (40)	19 (16.4)	2 (28.6)	19 (16)	2 (50)	19 (16.5)	2 (25)	17 (17.3)	2 (33.3)
p	0.405			0.511		0.098		0.594		0.269
Foetal distress
Present	22 (19)	1 (50)	0 (0)	22 (19)	1 (14.3)	22 (18.5)	1 (25)	22 (19.1)	1 (12.5)	18 (18.4)	1 (16.7)
Absent	91 (78.4)	1 (50)	5 (100)	91 (78.4)	6 (85.7)	94 (79)	3 (75)	90 (78.3)	7 (87.5)	77 (78.6)	5 (83.3)
Not evaluated	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	3 (2.5)	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	3 (3.1)	0 (0)
p	0.372			0.999		0.618		0.999		0.999
Meconium
Present	14 (12.1)	1 (50)	0 (0)	14 (12.1)	1 (14.3)	14 (11.8)	1 (25)	14 (12.2)	1 (12.5)	14 (14.3)	1 (16.7)
Absent	102 (87.9)	1 (50)	5 (100)	102 (87.9)	6 (85.7)	105 (88.2)	3 (75)	101 (87.8)	7 (87.5)	84 (85.7)	5 (83.3)
p	0.319			0.999		0.410		0.999		0.999
Toxoplasma. rubella. cytomegalovirus. herpes simplex. HIV
Absent	114 (98.3)	2 (100)	5 (100)	114 (98.3)	7 (100)	117 (98.3)	4 (100)	113 (98.3)	8 (100)	96 (98)	6 (100)
Not evaluated	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	2 (2)	0 (0)
p	0.999			0.999		0.999		0.999		0.999
Placental disease
Absent	109 (94)	2 (100)	4 (80)	109 (94)	6 (85.7)	111 (93.3)	4 (100)	108 (93.9)	7 (87.5)	92 (93.9)	6 (100)
Placenta previa	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (0.8)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (1)	0 (0)
Placental insufficiency	6 (5.2)	0 (0)	1 (20)	6 (5.2)	1 (14.3)	7 (5.9)	0 (0)	6 (5.2)	1 (12.5)	5 (5.1)	0 (0)
p	0.383			0.383		0.999		0.426		0.999
Systemic disease
Diabetes mellitus	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (0.8)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Hyperthyroidism	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (0.8)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (1)	0 (0)
Vasculitis	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	3 (2.5)	0 (0)	3 (2.6)	0 (0)	2 (2)	0 (0)
Absent	111 (95.7)	2 (100)	5 (100)	111 (95.7)	7 (100)	114 (95.8)	4 (100)	110 (95.7)	8 (100)	95 (96.9)	6 (100)
p	0.999			0.999		0.999		0.999		0.999
Amniotic fluid
Polyhydramnios	4 (3.4)	0 (0)	0 (0)	4 (3.4)	0 (0)	4 (3.4)	0 (0)	4 (3.5)	0 (0)	4 (4.1)	0 (0)
Oligohydramnios	4 (3.4)	0 (0)	1 (20)	4 (3.4)	1 (14.3)	4 (3.4)	1 (25)	4 (3.5)	1 (12.5)	3 (3.1)	1 (16.7)
Normal	108 (93.1)	2 (100)	4 (80)	108 (93.1)	6 (85.7)	111 (93.3)	3 (75)	107 (93)	7 (87.5)	91 (92.9)	5 (83.3)
p	0.421			0.421		0.265		0.466		0.389
Vitamin
Not used	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (0.8)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (1)	0 (0)
Irregular usage	56 (48.3)	2 (100)	2 (40)	56 (48.3)	4 (57.1)	58 (48.7)	2 (50)	55 (47.8)	5 (62.5)	47 (48)	3 (50)
Regular usage	59 (50.9)	0 (0)	3 (60)	59 (50.9)	3 (42.9)	60 (50.4)	2 (50)	59 (51.3)	3 (37.5)	50 (51)	3 (50)
p	0.468			0.731		0.999		0.999		0.999
Iron
Not used	10 (8.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	10 (8.6)	0 (0)	10 (8.4)	0 (0)	10 (8.7)	0 (0)	7 (7.1)	0 (0)
Irregular usage	42 (36.2)	2 (100)	2 (40)	42 (36.2)	4 (57.1)	44 (37)	2 (50)	41 (35.7)	5 (62.5)	36 (36.7)	3 (50)
Regular usage	64 (55.2)	0 (0)	3 (60)	64 (55.2)	3 (42.9)	65 (54.6)	2 (50)	64 (55.7)	3 (37.5)	55 (56.1)	3 (50)
p	0.498			0.584		0.999		0.350		0.793
Vitamin D
Irregular usage	53 (45.7)	2 (100)	2 (40)	53 (45.7)	4 (57.1)	55 (46.2)	2 (50)	52 (45.2)	5 (62.5)	44 (44.9)	3 (50)
Regular usage	63 (54.3)	0 (0)	3 (60)	63 (54.3)	3 (42.9)	64 (53.8)	2 (50)	63 (54.8)	3 (37.5)	54 (55.1)	3 (50)
p	0.409			0.703		0.999		0.999		0.999
Folic acid
Irregular usage	53 (45.7)	2 (100)	2 (40)	53 (45.7)	4 (57.1)	55 (46.2)	2 (50)	52 (45.2)	5 (62.5)	44 (44.9)	3 (50)
Regular usage	63 (54.3)	0 (0)	3 (60)	63 (54.3)	3 (42.9)	64 (53.8)	2 (50)	63 (54.8)	3 (37.5)	54 (55.1)	3 (50)
p	0.409			0.703		0.999		0.470		0.999
Radiation
Absent	110 (94.8)	2 (100)	5 (100)	110 (94.8)	7 (100)	113 (95)	4 (100)	109 (94.8)	8 (100)	93 (94.9)	6 (100)
Unknown	6 (5.2)	0 (0)	0 (0)	6 (5.2)	0 (0)	6 (5)	0 (0)	6 (5.2)	0 (0)	5 (5.1)	0 (0)
p	0.999			0.999		0.999		0.999		0.999
Urinary tract infections
Present	62 (53.4)	1 (50)	1 (20)	62 (53.4)	2 (28.6)	62 (52.1)	2 (50)	62 (53.9)	2 (25)	51 (52)	2 (33.3)
Absent	54 (46.6)	1 (50)	4 (80)	54 (46.6)	5 (71.4)	57 (47.9)	2 (50)	53 (46.1)	6 (75)	47 (48)	4 (66.7)
p	0.347			0.259		0.999		0.151		0.432
Upper respiratory infections
Present	45 (38.8)	1 (50)	1 (20)	45 (38.8)	2 (28.6)	45 (37.8)	2 (50)	45 (39.1)	2 (25)	36 (36.7)	2 (33.3)
Absent	71 (61.2)	1 (50)	4 (80)	71 (61.2)	5 (71.4)	74 (62.2)	2 (50)	70 (60.9)	6 (75)	62 (63.3)	4 (66.7)
p	0.833			0.707		0.636		0.709		0.999
Vaginitis
Present	52 (44.8)	1 (50)	1 (20)	52 (44.8)	2 (28.6)	52 (43.7)	2 (50)	52 (45.2)	2 (25)	44 (44.9)	2 (33.3)
Absent	64 (55.2)	1 (50)	4 (80)	64 (55.2)	5 (71.4)	67 (56.3)	2 (50)	63 (54.8)	6 (75)	54 (55.1)	4 (66.7)
p	0.694			0.465		0.999		0.464		0.691
Placental disease
Present	29 (25)	1 (50)	1 (20)	29 (25)	2 (28.6)	29 (24.4)	2 (50)	29 (25.2)	2 (25)	25 (25.5)	2 (33.3)
Absent	87 (75)	1 (50)	4 (80)	87 (75)	5 (71.4)	90 (75.6)	2 (50)	86 (74.8)	6 (75)	73 (74.5)	4 (66.7)
p	0.778			0.999		0.263		0.999		0.648
Smoking habit
Not smoking	79 (68.1)	0 (0)	3 (60)	79 (68.1)	3 (42.9)	81 (68.1)	1 (25)	79 (68.7)	3 (37.5)	64 (65.3)	2 (33.3)
Smoking	37 (31.9)	2 (100)	2 (40)	37 (31.9)	4 (57.1)	38 (31.9)	3 (75)	36 (31.3)	5 (62.5)	34 (34.7)	4 (66.7)
p	0.110			0.220		0.107		0.115		0.188
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy
Present	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (0.8)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (1)	0 (0)
Absent	115 (99.1)	2 (100)	5 (100)	115 (99.1)	7 (100)	118 (99.2)	4 (100)	114 (99.1)	8 (100)	97 (99)	6 (100)
p	0.813			0.999		0.999		0.999		0.999
Number of cigarettes
0	79 (68.1)	0 (0)	3 (60)	79 (68.1)	3 (42.9)	81 (68.1)	1 (25)	79 (68.7)	3 (37.5)	64 (65.3)	2 (33.3)
1–3 cigarettes	19 (16.4)	2 (100)	0 (0)	18 (15.5)	3 (42.9)	19 (16)	2 (50)	18 (15.7)	3 (37.5)	17 (17.3)	3 (50)
4–10 cigarettes	17 (14.7)	0 (0)	2 (40)	18 (15.5)	1 (14.3)	18 (15.1)	1 (25)	17 (14.8)	2 (25)	16 (16.3)	1 (16.7)
More than 10	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (0.8)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (1)	0 (0)
p	0.077			0.185		0.132		0.152		0.156
Wi-Fi at home
Not available	55 (47.4)	0 (0)	3 (60)	56 (48.3)	2 (28.6)	57 (47.9)	1 (25)	55 (47.8)	3 (37.5)	50 (51)	1 (16.7)
Available	39 (33.6)	1 (50)	2 (40)	38 (32.8)	4 (57.1)	40 (33.6)	2 (50)	38 (33)	4 (50)	30 (30.6)	4 (66.7)
Available in the building	22 (19)	1 (50)	0 (0)	22 (19)	1 (14.3)	22 (18.5)	1 (25)	22 (19.1)	1 (12.5)	18 (18.4)	1 (16.7)
p	0.470			0.410		0.525		0.626		0.191
Wi-Fi in workplace
Not available	98 (85.2)	0 (0)	4 (80)	98 (85.2)	0 (0)	100 (84.7)	2 (50)	97 (85.1)	5 (62.5)	98 (84.5)	4 (66.7)
Available	17 (14.8)	2 (100)	1 (20)	17 (14.8)	2 (100)	18 (15.3)	2 (50)	17 (14.9)	3 (37.5)	18 (15.5)	2 (33.3)
p	0.064			0.086		0.125		0.123		0.255
Base Station Nearby
Available	27 (23.3)	0 (0)	0 (0)	27 (23.3)	0 (0)	27 (22.7)	0 (0)	27 (23.5)	0 (0)	27 (23.1)	0 (0)
Not available	89 (76.7)	2 (100)	5 (100)	89 (76.7)	7 (100)	92 (77.3)	4 (100)	88 (76.5)	8 (100)	90 (76.9)	6 (100)
p	0.748			0.346		0.575		0.198		0.337

p < 0.0; Fisher’s exact chi-square test.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.