Ana Paula Bensemann Gontijo1, Lívia de Castro Magalhães, Miriam Queiroz Faria Guerra. 1. Department of Physical Therapy (Dr Gontijo), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Occupational Therapy (Dr Magalhães), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Occupational Therapy (Ms Guerra), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine whether the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) requires reference values specific for Brazilian infants. METHODS: A total of 660 (330 girls) healthy full-term infants from Belo Horizonte were assessed using the AIMS. Scores and percentile curves were compared with the Canadian reference values. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Differences were found in the 5th percentile (9-<10 and 10-<11 months) and the 10th percentile (4-<5, 9-<10, and 10-<11 months) curves. No significant differences were found between sexes on the basis of the economic classification or the criteria of the Human Development Index. CONCLUSION: Primarily because of the corrections made to the 5th and 10th percentile curves, we recommend the use of the Brazilian infant data curves reported here for further studies conducted in Brazil. Because the Human Development Index of Belo Horizonte is similar to that for Brazil as a whole, the results of this study should be relevant for clinicians throughout Brazil.
PURPOSE: To determine whether the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) requires reference values specific for Brazilian infants. METHODS: A total of 660 (330 girls) healthy full-term infants from Belo Horizonte were assessed using the AIMS. Scores and percentile curves were compared with the Canadian reference values. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Differences were found in the 5th percentile (9-<10 and 10-<11 months) and the 10th percentile (4-<5, 9-<10, and 10-<11 months) curves. No significant differences were found between sexes on the basis of the economic classification or the criteria of the Human Development Index. CONCLUSION: Primarily because of the corrections made to the 5th and 10th percentile curves, we recommend the use of the Brazilian infant data curves reported here for further studies conducted in Brazil. Because the Human Development Index of Belo Horizonte is similar to that for Brazil as a whole, the results of this study should be relevant for clinicians throughout Brazil.