| Popis: |
Background: Pencil grip describes the position of the fingers in gripping a pencil. It commences in the preschool years with the introduction of pencils markers, and other graphomotor skills, therefore, relevant to graphologists, forensic medicine, and anthropology. Objective: This investigation aimed at describing the diversity of pencil-grip patterns among pupils in Delta State, Nigeria. The effects of sociodemographic factors, handedness, and handwriting speed on pencil-grip patterns were also highlighted. Materials and Methods: A stratified random sampling was employed in this cross-sectional study. A total of 284 pupils between the ages of 1 and 10 years were investigated. Pupils were observed while writing from their textbooks. Photograph of the writing hand was captured with the digital canon camera. Handwriting speed was determined by a speed score (L/min) and timed for 60 s for each participant. Data were analyzed using the Statistic Package for the Social Sciences 20. The Kruskal–Wallis (K.W.) test was used to establish the relationship between pencil-grip patterns and sociodemographic factors, handedness along with handwriting speed. Results: Findings showed that the age had a statistically significant effect on pencil-grip patterns among nursery pupils at P < 0.05 (K.W. = 23.78, df = 4, and P= 0.00). It was also observed that the gender had a statistically significant effect on pencil-grip patterns among primary pupils (P < 0.05)(K. W. = 6.89. df = 1, and P= 0.00). Conclusion: The dynamic tripod grip was predominant among participants; however, there were variations in grip patterns among participants which were attributed to the effect of some sociodemographic factors. |
