Abstract
This study examines the effects of cultural and biomedical variables on newborn development by comparing a sample of Irish (n=48) and American (n=54) newborns on the Brazelton scale on day 1 and day 3. The contribution of biomedical variables was assessed by the Obstetric Complications Scale (Parmelee et al., 1976), so that subjects were selected on a basis of comparable obstetric histories. By controlling for as many confounding obstetric stress variables as possible, we were able to assess the contribution of other factors on newborn behavior. Labor and delivery management practices were therefore compared in both settings. Using the 7-point cluster scoring system developed by Lester et al. (1978), results showed that Irish infants scored significantly higher on the Orientation, Range of State, and Autonomic Regulation clusters. They were more responsive to both visual and auditory stimuli, were predominantly in quiet alert states, and showed fewer signs of physiological stress than American infants. These results may suggest that the forms of childbirth environments and different cultural attitudes towards pregnancy, labor and delivery have an effect on newborn behavior. We were therefore able to raise the possibility that the superior performance of the Irish infants in these areas may be due to the provision of an extremely supportive psychological environment with minimal technological intervention during labor and delivery.
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Nugent, J., Lester, B. & Brazelton, T. 83 THE RELATION BETWEEN OBSTETRIC FACTORS, CULTURAL FACTORS AND NEWBORN BEHAVIOR. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 453 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00092
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00092