Motor development comparison between infants of adolescent and adult mothers

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare motor development of infants aged 0 to 16 months born of teenage mothers to those of adult mothers. Eighty babies were assessed, 40 of which the children of teenage mothers, and 40 of adult mothers. Instruments used were the Alberta infant motor scale (AIMS) and a questionnaire to collect biological information. Data were statistically analysed. Results show teenage mothers' infants to have delayed motor development as compared to adult mothers' ones (p=0.002; p=0.001), as well as their poor motor acquisitions in prone and standing positions. No association was found between infants' motor development and most of the biological factors analysed. Results hence suggest that early maternal age may be considered a risk factor to motor delay in infants, but attention should be paid to other factors such as task requirements and environmental conditions (here not controlled) that may influence the pace of motor acquisition in infants.