Behavioral correlates of the nutritional status of the newly born infants

ABSTRACT

One hundred and two [102] healthy newly born infants were studied to explore the relationship between the nutritional status and behavior of the newborn infants. The biologically more mature infants i.e. In terms of birth weight and gestational age were more visually alert, less irritable and less active. With regard t infant sex, girls were significantly more visually alert than boys. With regard to parity, first borns showed increased activity levels compared with the second or born infants. Heightened irritability was associated with vaginal rather than caesarean section delivery and with use of anesthesia during labour. Twenty infants were classified among low pondral index [pi] for gestational age, they showed statistically significant lower behavioral scores especially on visual alertness and activity level measures. Of the protein fractions were found at a significantly lower concentrations in infants born by caesarean section compared to the vaginally born infants at the same gestational age. Neonatal physical growth was positively significantly correlated with the socioeconomic status of their families. Both weight, birth length, head circumference, mean arm muscle area as well as lean body mass were higher in the babies belonging to middle socioeconomic class families compared with lower class families