Abstract

• To observe the neurobehavior of premature infants, Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was performed on 88 newborns, of gestational age 31 weeks to 40 weeks. The infants were devided into 5 groups according to gestational ages and means, standard deviation and correlation coefficient on 26 items of BNBAS were calculated.
  High correlation between items and gestational age was observed in the dimension of social interactive process and only part of items in the state control was significantly correlated. The poorest correlation was found in the dimension of motoric interactive process.
  Even though BNBAS is made for mature fullterm newborns, it can be used to evaluate the neurobehavior of premature infants with special consideration of prematurity It becomes clear that since neurobehavior of premature infants are unstable, inconsistent and generally poor in response to external stimuli, the relationship between the prematures and caretakers is likely to be less optimal than fullterms, which, in extreme case, can lead to child abuse, and which should be prevented by cooperation between the caretakers and medical personnels.