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Low birth-weight prematures: Preventive intervention and maternal attitude

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Abstract

This pilot intervention study assesses the impact of demonstrating two different physical exams (Brazelton Behavioral Assessment Scale vs. standard physical exam) of ill preterm infants to their mothers at 34 weeks gestational age. Outcome measures include mothers' (newborn intensive care unit) N.I.C.U. visits one week subsequently, and, at six months corrected age, mothers' attitudes towards childrearing, mother's assessment of infant temperament, mothers' memory of the examination and infants' development quotient. In addition, we compare the overall group of pre-term mothers' childrearing attitudes to full-term mothers. We found differences in childrearing attitudes between full-term and pre-term mothers and between intervention and control pre-term mothers. We also found that the intervention Brazelton Newborn Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) facilitated mothers' visits to the N.I.C.U. and at six months, mothers' attitudes towards reciprocity and their tendency to perceive their infants temperamently easier.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, 06032, Farmington, CT

    Nathan Szajnberg M.D.

Authors
  1. Nathan Szajnberg M.D.
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  2. Mary J. Ward M.D.
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  3. Alfred Krauss M.D.
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  4. Daniel B. Kessler M.D.
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Szajnberg, N., Ward, M.J., Krauss, A. et al. Low birth-weight prematures: Preventive intervention and maternal attitude. Child Psych Hum Dev 17, 152–165 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706226

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706226

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