Context: Neonatal resuscitation is a critical component of perinatal services in all settings. Purpose: To systematically describe preparedness of rural hospitals for neonatal resuscitation, and to determine whether delivery volume and level of perinatal care were associated with overall preparedness or its indicators. Methods: We developed the…

Context: Rates of preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) vary by region, with disparities particularly evident in the Appalachian region of the South. Community conditions related to rurality likely contribute to adverse birth outcomes in this region. Purpose: This study examined associations between rurality and related community…

The current study provides evidence for the existence of an other-age effect (OAE), analogous to the well-documented other-race effect. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrate that adults are better at recognizing adult faces compared with faces of newborns and children. Results from Experiment 3 indicate that the OAE obtained with child faces can be…

It is well-known and documented that the premature birth of an infant and its subsequent hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a source of considerable stress for parents. However, little is known about the parents' emotional state and functioning during the months following the infant's discharge from the NICU. The present…

This study tested the effects of moderately intense square-wave tone on the nutritive sucking pattern of neonates. (Author/SB)

Results suggest that temporal summation of brief stimuli is deficient in neonates. When compared with adult data from an analogous study, results also suggest that the transient system is immature in infants and that this immaturity is expressed in different ways by startle amplitude, probability, and latency. (PCB)

In contrast with controls and newborn presented with static models, only newborn presented with dynamic models reproduced the models' actions at significant levels. Infants in the static condition fixated the experimenter longer than those in the dynamic one. Results are discussed in terms of neurophysiological findings concerning the control of…

Sixty primiparous parents recorded the questions asked when they telephoned others to announce their baby's birth. Eighty percent of the initial questions were about the baby's gender. Questions about mother's health and baby's characteristics typically were second and third, respectively. (Author/RH)

To clarify the role of the cerebral cortex in neonatal behavior, the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale--Kansas Revision was administered to a hydranencephalic infant. Extremely deviant responses on portions of the exam were found, including responses to items measuring response decrement and orientation. (Author/RH)

The temporal organization of neonatal nutritive sucking and heart rate were studied in two consecutive 4-minute periods to analyze the effects of two quantities of response-contingent fluid. Results are discussed in relation to the distinction between nutritive and nonnutritive sucking and effects of fluid sweetness. (Author/SB)

Results indicated that infants only 0.7 to 71 hours old can imitate adults' facial gestures (mouth opening and tongue protrusions). Three possible mechanisms underlying this early imitative behavior are suggested. (Author/MP)

Experiments investigated whether more elements in the upper part of a visual configuration influenced newborns' preference for face-like patterns. Findings indicated that newborns preferred nonface-like stimuli with more upper part elements over nonface-like stimuli with more lower elements, but did not prefer face-like over nonface-like stimuli…

Obstetric brachial plexus palsy is a devastating birth injury. While many children recover spontaneously, 20-25% are left with a permanent impairment of the affected limb. So far, concepts of pathology and recovery have focused on the injury of the peripheral nerve. Proximal nerve injury at birth, however, leads to massive injury-induced…

Purpose: To explore adolescent health seeking behavior during pregnancy and early motherhood in order to contribute to health policy formulation and improved access to health care. This will in long-term have an impact on the reduction of morbidity and mortality among adolescent mothers and their newborns. Methods: This was a qualitative study…

For years "Exceptional Parent" ("EP") has been offering educational information and support to those challenged with disabilities and takes an equally pro-active role in disseminating vital information that could potentially prevent disabilities. This is evidenced by its past and ongoing efforts in being a proponent and champion for comprehensive…