This study had the dual purpose of determining the anthropometric and motor development
status of street children as well as to establish the effect of an intervention programme on their
motor development. The first aim of the study was to determine the anthropometric and motor
development status of street children. The children were selected from a sample of street
children living in a state-run shelter. Twenty eight children (20 boys and 8 girls) between the
ages of 7 and 14 were measured to determine their anthropometric and motor development
status. The anthropometric measures included stature, mass, body-mass index (BMI), and two
skin folds (subscapular and triceps). The measurements were performed according to the
protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The
results of the anthropometric measurements showed that the street children are shorter, lighter
and have a lower BMI and smaller skin folds than the norm for children of the same age. The
sample exhibited a prevalence of malnutrition. The same subjects who were tested to determine
the anthropometric composition (except for four children, who had since left the shelter) were
used to determine the motor development status. The gross motor, fine motor and neuromotor
functions were tested to determine the motor development status. This was determined by means
of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test II of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), the Sensory Input Screening
Instrument and a section of the Quick Neurological Screening Test II. The results showed that
the motor (gross motor, fine motor and neuromotor) development of the street children is below
the standard norms.
The second aim of the study was to determine the effect of an intervention programme on the
motor development of street children. The same subjects who were tested to determine the
motor development status (except for four children, who had since left the shelter) were used to
determine the effect of a motor intervention programme. Seventeen boys and 7 girls between the
ages of 7 and 14 years were randomly selected and divided into an experimental (n=13) and a
control group (n= 11). A 10-week motor intervention programme that consisted of bi-weekly
sessions of 45 minutes was implemented. The affectivity of this was evaluated by a post-test.
The programme consisted of perceptual motor, sensory integration and task specific activities
using the integrated method. The main components, which were addressed in the lessons, were
bilateral integration, response speed, hand skills, muscle tone, motor planning, equilibrium,
vestibular function and vision strengthening activities. The program was presented by a
qualified kinderkineticist. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), the
Sensory Input Screening Instrument and a section of the Quick Neurological Screening Test I1
were applied to determine the effect of the intervention programme. Covariance of analysis,
correcting for pre-testing differences between the groups, indicated improvement of the
Bruininks-Oseretsky-Test Total as well as in fine motor skills and upper limb speed in the
experimental group. Vestibular and vision functions also increased significantly in this group,
which might have contributed to the improvement in fine motor development. All these
improvements showed a high practical significance (ES>0.8).
Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that the physical growth and motor
development deficits as well as the positive effects of the intervention program, as identified in
this study be brought under the attention of relevant persons in state organizations and private
institutions, which are involved with street children. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/826 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Van Niekerk, Lizl-Louise |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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