Predictors of low perceptual-motor skills in children at 4-5 years of age / Preditores da baixa habilidade percepto-motora em crianças de 4-5 anos de idade

Abstract Objectives: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictors of low perceptual-motor skills in children at preschool age. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study nested in a birth cohort involving mother-child pairs. The children's perceptual-motor skills were assessed individually in their homes when they were 4-5 years old using the Pre-Literacy Skills and Knowledge Test (THCP®), a vali-dated Brazilian instrument. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between cognitive perceptual-motor skills and potential maternal and child risk factors. Results: of the 199 children included in the study, 53.8% were boys, 90.8% attended school, and 91.1% were enrolled in a public school. Among the children, 114 (57.3%), 41 (20.6%) and 44 (22.1%) had low, moderate and high perceptual-motor skills, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed greater odds of children at preschool age having low perceptual motor skills for boys (OR=2.10; CI95%= 1.14-3.88), children who did not attend school (OR=4.61; CI95%= 1.21-17.49), and those with a household income <5 minimum wages (MW) (OR=4.28; CI95%= 1.49-12.26). Conclusions: our study showed that male gender, not attending school and a monthly household income <5 MW were predictors of low perceptual-motor skills in children at 4-5 years of age.

Resumo Objetivos: avaliar os preditores da baixa habilidade percepto-motora em crianças em idade pré-escolar. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo transversal aninhado a uma coorte de nascimentos envol-vendo pares de mães-crianças. A habilidade percepto-motora das crianças foi avaliada indi-vidualmente em suas residências quando completaram 4-5 anos de idade, utilizando-se o Teste de Habilidades e Conhecimento Pré-Alfabetização (THCP®), um instrumento brasileiro validado. Análise de regressão logística foi utilizada para estimar a associação entre a baixa habilidade percepto-motora das crianças e potenciais fatores de risco materno-infantil. Resultados: das 199 crianças incluídas no estudo, 53,8% eram meninos, 90,8% frequen-tavam a escola, e 91,1% estudavam em escola pública. Entre as crianças, 114 (57,3%), 41 (20,6%) e 44 (22,1%) revelaram baixa, moderada e elevada habilidade percepto-motora, respectivamente. A análise de regressão logística ajustada revelou maior chance de crianças em idade pré-escolar apresentar baixa habilidade percepto-motora quando em meninos (OR=2,10; IC95%=1,14-3,88), crianças que não frequentavam a escola (OR=4,61; IC95%=1,21-17,49), e possuíam renda familiar <5 salários mínimos (SM) (OR=4,28; IC95%=1,49-12,26). Conclusões: nosso estudo revelou que sexo masculino, renda familiar <5 SM, e não frequentar a escola foram preditores significativos da baixa habilidade percepto-motora em crianças de 4-5 anos de idade.

Association of Maternal Depression and Anxiety Symptoms with Sleep Duration in Children at Preschool Age.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of maternal depression and anxiety symptoms on daily sleep duration in 4-5-year-old children. METHODS: Data were obtained from the PREDI Study, a larger cohort study conducted in Brazil. The current study is a cross-sectional study carried out in the homes of the participants between July 2016 and August 2017. The participants were submitted to anthropometric assessment and demographic, socioeconomic and psychological data were obtained. Total sleep time was self-reported by the women and classified as ≥ 10 or < 10 h of sleep/day. Maternal depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 216 children included in the study, 77.3% and 22.7% had ≥ 10 and < 10 h of sleep/day, respectively. Regarding the women, 20.0% and 19.5% had moderate/severe depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Moderate/severe symptoms of maternal depression were associated with < 10 h of sleep/day (p = 0.034). Unadjusted analysis showed that children whose mothers had moderate/severe depression symptoms were significantly more likely to sleep < 10 h/day at 4-5 years of age than those whose mothers had minimal/mild depression symptoms (OR 2.38, p = 0.037). This association continued to be significant and increased to an OR of 3.99 (p = 0.006) after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our study showed that sleeping less than 10 h/day at preschool age was associated with moderate/severe maternal depression symptoms. These results are important from a public health perspective since strategies designed to treat depression in women with school-age children may help improve their child's sleep quality and, consequently, his cognitive performance and related behavioral and emotional problems in the future.

Influence of weight status at 2 years on memory performance at 4-5 years of age.

Background: Memory performance is a cognitive function that is affected by environmental, genetic and socioeconomic factors, as well as by weight status.Aim: To evaluate the association of weight status at 2 years of age with the memory performance of children at 4-5 years of age.Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study that used baseline data (2012) and data from two follow-up periods (2014 and 2016) of the PREDI Cohort Study. Participants were mother-child pairs 4-5 years after delivery who were seen between July 2016 and August 2017. The children's memory performance was evaluated individually using a validated Brazilian instrument.Results: Of the 203 children included in the study, 117 (57.6%), 52 (25.6%) and 34 (16.8%) had low, moderate and high memory performance, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, children with a BMI > 85th percentile had 3.33-times higher odds of exhibiting lower memory performance at 4-5 years of age than those with a BMI ≤ 85th percentile. In addition to the children's BMI at 2 years of age, mother's education was another independent determinant of children's memory performance. There was a progressive increase in the odds of children having lower memory performance at 4-5 years of age as the mother's education decreased.Conclusion: Primary prevention of overweight and management of cognitive functions may be important strategies to improve the cognitive development of children in the future.