Objective

To establish the prevalence of the psychomotor profile in children aged four to eight years attending the schools of the North Historical Center of Barranquilla, Colombia.

Method

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 755 students from public and private schools aged between 4 and 8 years. The motor profile was measured by Da Fonseca Psychomotor Battery.

Results

An increased risk for apraxic-dyspraxic performance of the global praxis subfactor was observed in schoolchildren aged four to five years [OR 4.8; 95 % CI; 3.3-7.1] who study in public schools [OR 4.4; 95 % CI; 2.7-7.3], in those classified in the socioeconomic in strata 1, 2 and 3 [OR 2.4; 95 % CI; 1.5-3.9], and in those with an increased weight [OR 2; 95 % CI; 1.2-3.3]. The highest risk for apraxic-dyspraxic performance correlated to public school students [OR 1.9; 95% CI; 1.3-2.8] aged between four and five [OR 3.7; 95 % CI; 2.7-5.3]. The apraxic-dyspraxic performance in the structuring of the temporal space subfactor was higher in girls [OR 1.6; 95 % CI; 1.1- 2.2], in schoolchildren aged four to five [OR 4.8; 95 % CI; 3.3-7.1], in students of public schools [OR 1.9; 95 % CI; 2.7- 5.3], and in children classified in the socioeconomic strata 1, 2 and 3 [OR 1.6; 95 % CI; 1.1-2.7].

Conclusions

Determinants such as studying in public schools, nutritional status, gender and socioeconomic stratum are related to motor performance in students.