The Gudaga Study: development in 3-year-old urban Aboriginal children

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this analysis was to study and explore factors associated with the developmental progress in urban Aboriginal children at 3 years.

Methods: The Gudaga Study is a longitudinal birth cohort study of urban Aboriginal infants. The children were assessed using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales, Extended Revised (GMDS-ER) and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Fourth Edition (PPVT-IV). Student's t-tests and multiple linear regression analysis were used to test the association between developmental progress and possible risk factors.

Results: Overall, the mean general quotient (GQ) for Gudaga children was significantly lower than the standardised norm (P < 0.001). In the GMDS-ER subscales, the scores were higher than expected in the locomotor (P = 0.002) and personal-social domains (P = 0.002) and lower than expected for language (P < 0.001), eye and hand coordination (P < 0.001), performance (P < 0.001) and practical reasoning (P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that maternal age (P = 0.02) and single-mother status (P = 0.04) were significantly associated with lower performance on the GMDS-ER. The GQ was inversely proportional to the number of risk factors present (P = 0.001). The mean score of the PPVT-IV was also lower than the PPVT-IV norms (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: At 3 years, urban Aboriginal children show relative strengths in their locomotor and self-care skills and emerging delays in their language, fine motor and performance skills. Slower developmental progress was more likely in the context of young maternal age and single parenthood.

Keywords: Aboriginal children; Griffiths' Mental Development Scales; child development; development assessment; urban environment.