1 Department of Science and Technology of Physical Activities and Sport, National Institute of Youth, Physical Education and Sport (INJEPS), University of Abomey Calavi, Motor Skills, Performance and Sports Health Laboratory (LaBioP), Porto/Nobvo, Benin. 01 PO Box 552 Porto/Novo.
2 Multidisciplinary Doctoral School Physical Education, Sport and Human Development (EDP-EPS/DH), University of Abomey Calavi, National Institute of Youth, Physical Education and Sport (INJEPS), Porto/Novo, Benin. 01 BP 552 Porto/Novo.
3 Department of Science and Technology of Physical Activities and Sport, National Institute of Youth, Physical Education and Sport (INJEPS), University of Abomey Calavi, Laboratory of Exercise Physiology Research Unit, Porto/Novo, Benin. 01 PO Box 552 Porto/Novo.
* Corresponding Author: Gérard Sèmako DOSSOU E-mail: dossousemako@gmail.com
ORCID Details
Gérard Sèmako DOSSOU: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7618-8183
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2026, 31(02), 1670–1678
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2026.31.2.2167
Received on 12 July 2026; revised on 29 August 2026; accepted on 31 August 2026
Background: Infant motor development is an early and sensitive indicator of neurological maturation and the quality of the care environment. While the World Health Organization (WHO) has established international normative windows for the acquisition of key motor milestones, several family and socio-professional factors, still poorly documented in Benin, could influence this timeline, particularly the mother's professional activity and childcare arrangements during working hours.
Method: This is a longitudinal study of 315 female civil servants and their newborns aged 1 to 7 days. The newborns were distributed according to the professional activity of the mother. and all the different data of the stages of the development of the overall motor were observed, noted and analyzed.
Results: Motor development varies according to the mother's professional activity. the motor development of newborns of female civil servants is lower than that of newborns of women not exercising any activity whatever the stage of motor development because all p <0.05. the comparison of the trajectory of motor development in newborns is similar to those of the control group during the period of maternity leave because p> 0.05. And the comparison during the mother's labor period is lower than that of the control group because p <0.05. There is a strong correlation between the motor development of newborns and the professional activity of the mothers (Pearson's correlation r varies between 0.82 and 0.98).
Conclusion: The motor development of newborns depends on the socio-professional activity of the mother.
Newborns; Professional activities; Mother state officials; Motor development; Bénin
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Gérard Sèmako DOSSOU, Lafiou YESSOUFOU, KORA ZAKI Safiou, HOUETO Vignon Gratien and Mohamed Mansourou LAWANI. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OF MOTHER STATE OFFICIALS AND THE OVERALL MOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF 315 BENIN NEWBORNS DURING THEIR FIRST 14 MONTHS OF LIFE. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2026, 31(02), 1670–1678. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2026.31.2.2167