title: Early developmental milestones and age of independent walking in orphans compared with typical home-raised infants.
abstract: Early gross motor development is a major indicator of global milestones in the first year of life, affecting the walking ability of a child. There has been limited research reporting on early motor development and the age of independent walking of orphaned infants compared to typical home-raised infants. The purpose of this study was to compare the mean scores of early gross motor movement at 4, 6 and 8months of age and at the age of walking attainment of typically raised infants and orphaned infants. In addition, we looked to compare the walking age between these same infants.
  
  
  
  This cross-sectional study recruited 59 typical home-raised infants and 62 orphans. Their gross motor development was assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). The age of walking attainment was also prospectively monitored and ascertained. The Student's independent t-test was used to analyse the differences of the AIMS scores at 4, 6 and 8months of age and at the age of independent walking between the two groups.
  
  
  
  The orphans showed significantly lower AIMS scores at 4, 6 and 8months of age and the age of independent walking (P-value<0.05). The orphan group had a 5-month older mean age of walking attainment (15.0±4.2months) compared with typical home-raised infants (9.9±1.4months).
  
  
  
  Orphans have delays in early gross motor development and walk independently at an older age, compared with home-raised infants.
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Electronic address: mybelove.ibubu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Supattra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaibal
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Electronic address: surmac@kku.ac.th.
authors.forename: Surussawadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Electronic address: korrawanrattana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Korrawan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rattanathanthong
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Muang, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. Electronic address: wantana.siritaratiwat@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wantana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Siritaratiwat
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D054540:Child, Orphaned; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019372:Orphanages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking
keywords: Alberta Infant Motor Scale; Early gross motor development; Home-raised infants; Orphanage