Physical Play with Children Predicts Better Hematological Health; Hematological Health Predicts Cognitive and Behavioral Development

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

Orlando, FL

Date of Presentation

5-29-2019

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000560885.66973.a2

Volume

51

Issue

6S

First Page

129

Abstract

More than half of all Ugandan children under the age of 5 are anemic. The consequences of anemia are amplified during this period as it is critical to cognitive and physical development. Adequate physical play may bolster hematological health, and in turn cognitive and behavioral development, but this has not been previously explored. PURPOSE: Examine the effect of play on serum hemoglobin (Hb) among children under the age of 5 in Uganda, and to test the effect of Hb on cognitive and behavioral development. METHODS: We analyzed the 2016 Demographic Health Surveys of Uganda, Children’s Records dataset. Anemia testing was performed on children age 6-59 months whose parents or guardians consented (N=3,944). Hb levels were collected to determine the incidence and severity of anemia. Children with Hb ≥11 g/dL were not considered anemic. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the effect of physical play with parents on Hb. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the effect of Hb on the odds that children were developing literacy and appropriate behaviors. RESULTS: On average, children were 31.3 ± 15.6 months old and had 10.9 ± 1.61 g/dL of Hb; 54.6% were anemic. Holding constant the mothers’ height and weight, the child’s age, height, and weight, and the region (controlling for differences in culture, geography, and altitude), if the mother or father played with their children, the children’s Hb was elevated by 0.14 g/dL (p=0.019); if the mother smoked, the children’s Hb decreased by 0.3 g/dL (p=0.036). Holding constant the child’s age, height, and weight, increased Hb associated with increased odds of behaving appropriately around other children (β=0.38; p=0.001), being capable of performing tasks independently (β=0.13; p=0.036), being able to read and count to 10 (β=0.19; p=0.002), being able to read at least 4 words (β=0.31; p<0.001), and being able to identify at least 10 letters (β=0.32; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a sample of children from Equatorial Africa, physical play with parents predicted elevations in Hb. In turn, elevated Hb predicted more advanced cognitive and behavioral development. Implementing physical activity in parent-child interactions may have value as a primary prevention for anemia and it may also help advance the child’s growth and maturation.

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