Impact of Tactile Stimulation on Neurobehavioral Development of Premature Infants in Assiut City

Abstract

Objective: To assess impact of tactile stimulation on neurobehavioral development of premature infants in Assiut City. Design: Quasi-experimental research design. Setting: The study was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Assiut University Children Hospital, Assiut General Hospital, Health Insurance Hospital (El-Mabarah Hospital) and El-Eyman for Gynecology and Obstetric Hospital. Subjects: The study subjects included a convenient sample of 50 premature infants divided into study or control groups and they were matched with gestational age and birth weight. Tool: Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale is used to assess neurobehavioral development of infants from birth to two months of age. Method: Premature infants divided into two groups; (a) study group who receiving tactile stimulation (b) control group who receiving routine hospital care only. Neurobehavioral development using Brazelton’s Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS) was assessed at initial contact and after 5 days of intervention and on discharge. Results: showed that the premature infants of the study had better neurobehavioral development than those in the control group with statistical significant differences were found between the study and the control groups Conclusion: It was concluded from the findings of the current study that premature infants who received tactile stimulation had better neurobehavioral development than those who didn’t receive it and had only the hospital routine care.

Keywords: Tactile stimulation, neurobehavioral development, premature infant.