The most common form of nutritional deficiency worldwide is iron deficiency, which is
associated with sup optimal early brain development. Literature indicates that children
with a poor nutritional status during early development of the brain showed poorer
cognitive functioning, deficient growth and muscle function.
The first purpose of this study was to determine if iron status plays a role in motor
competency. A second purpose was to determine if iron status shows an association
with motor competency, behavioural characteristics and scholastic success, while a third
purpose was to determine if the consumption of different teas will improve iron intake
positively and consequently will improve motor development and behaviour. A test- retest
research design was used in a randomised parallel study, with one group of children
drinking tea and a control group drinking 'rooibos' tea. The Movement Assessment
Battery for Children (MABC) (Henderson & Sugden, 1992) was used to determine the
DCD (Developmental co-ordination disorder) status in the group (N = 76). In this group,
45 children were classified as children with DCD. Blood samples were taken to
determine the haemoglobin, ferritin and transferrin saturation levels while a 24hr recall
dietary questionnaire was used to determine nutritional intakes. Descriptive statistics, t-testing,
effect sizes and analysis of co-variance were used to analyse the data.
With regards to the first aim of the study, the results which were analysed by means of
t-testing, effect sizes and co-variance of analysis indicated that iron deficiency showed
significant relationships with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). When
corrected for influences other than haemoglobin on gross motor competency manual
dexterity, and especially ball skills, showed significant relationships with iron deficiency.
These results demonstrate the importance of proper nutrition on motor and cognitive
development.
With reference to the second aim of the study the assessment of children with DCD by
the teachers with regard to their manual dexterity and behavioural characteristics,
indicated poorer manual dexterity and more behavioural problems compared to children
without DCD. The children in the DCD group was also divided into a group where the
MABC-total showed improvement and their haemoglobin levels increased (n=19). This
group was then compared with a group of DCD children of which the MABC total
decreased and a decrease in haemoglobin was found (n=6). Although the groups were
small, the results indicate that manual dexterity skills and mathematics, reading and
writing was poorer in the DCD-children whose iron status decreased. No definite
association between the different teas and improvement of motor development and
behaviour were indicated by the results.
Overall, the conclusion can be made that a relationship between iron status and
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) among 9-12 year old children exist.
However, it is recommended that more studies of this nature should be done on school
age children to substantiate the findings of this study. Intervention studies should also
be implemented where the children with depleted iron anaemia status should receive iron
supplementation. / Thesis (M.Sc. (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:10394/604 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Nel, Rentia |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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