Screening Moroccan infants using the Wolański Gross Motor Evaluation: a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of using the Wolański Gross Motor Evaluation (WGME), to effectively screen Moroccan infants for motor disabilities. Additionally, the appropriateness of Polish norms for use with Moroccan children was considered. One hundred and twenty subjects, 15 females and 15 males from four age groups (three, six, nine and 12 months), were recruited from well-baby clinics in Marrakech. Subjects were tested for gross motor maturity using the WGME. Differences were found in the sequence of skill acquisition between the Polish norms and the Moroccan sample in sitting, standing, and rolling skills. Differences were also found in the rate of development between the Moroccan and Polish infants. No differences were found between Moroccan females and Moroccan males in the rate of motor development. Results from this study indicate that the grids used to score the WGME are not applicable to Moroccan infants, and would need to be modified for use with a Moroccan population.