Neurobehavioral profile of healthy full-term newborn infants of adolescent mothers

Background:The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) is used to assess neurological integrity, behavioral function and the existence of stress and abstinence signs in newborn infants.Aim:To determine the neurobehavioral profile of healthy term neonates of adolescent mothers.Design:Cross-sectional study with prospective collection of data.Subjects:419 healthy newborns without analgesic/sedative use at labor, intra-uterine drug exposure, multiple gestation, congenital malformations or infections. The NNNS was applied with 33 ± 7 hours of life in a quiet and dark room, between feedings.Outcome measures:Mean, SD, and 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentiles for each of 13 NNNS variables were determined and compared according to maternal age (12–14 years vs. 15–17 years vs. 18–19 years) by ANOVA.Results:Mothers had 17 ± 1.5 years, 50% white, 7.1 ± 2.2 years of education, prenatal care in 96%, vaginal delivery in 73%, and local/regional anesthesia in 75%. Neonates had birth weight 3205 ±299 g, gestational age 39.4 ± 1.1 weeks, 55% male, 1 min Apgar 8.2 ± 1.3, and 5 min Apgar 9.6 ±0.6. NNNS scores (mean ± SD): habituation: 6.86 ± 1.49; attention: 5.73 ± 1.32; arousal: 3.70 ± 0.70; regulation: 6.06 ± 0.74; orientation handling procedures: 0.36 ± 0.26; quality of movements: 5.11 ±0.49; excitability: 2.48 ± 1.68; lethargy: 4.04 ± 1.82; non-optimal reflexes: 3.67 ± 1.35; asymmetry: 0.71 ± 0.94; hypertonicity: 0.18 ± 0.39; hypotonicity: 0.13 ± 037; and stress/abstinence signs: 0.07 ± 0.05. Infants of younger adolescent mothers were less lethargic than infants of older ones.ConclusionThe description of the neurobehavioral profile of healthy term newborns of adolescent mothers is important to establish normal standards for this population.