Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between neonatal behavioral assessment and mental-motor development at 12 months. The subjects were 77 low birth-weight infants. We examined them by Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scales (NBAS) at 44 weeks gestational age, and by Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) at 12 months corrected age. The multiple regression analysis was performed with Bayley Scales, Mental score (MDI) and Motor scores (PDI) as objective and NBAS 8 cluster scores as explanatory variables. As a result, NBAS 8 cluster scores proved to have a strong influence on the Bayley Scales (MDI: R^2=0.58 p<0.001, PDI: R^2=0.61 p<0.001). Bayley Scales at 12 months corrected age could be explained 60% from 8 NBAS cluster scores. Calculation of standard partial regression coefficient revealed 'Motor cluster score (MDI: β=0.377 p<0.001, PDI: β=0.285 p<0.01 )', 'State Range cluster score (MDI: β=0.279 p<0.01, PDI: β=0.254 p<0.01)' and 'Reflexes cluster score (MDI: β=-0.271 P<0.01, PDI: β=O.478 p<0.001)' to have significant influences on Bayley Scales as objective variables. These results indicate that NBAS is very useful for the early assessment of neonatal risk status and early intervention planning.
