Assessment of the quality of general movements in newborn infants: a tool to predict developmental disorders at an early age

  • Ahmad Suryawan
  • Bambang Permono
  • Komang Ayu Witarini
  • Risa Etika
  • Fatimah lndarso
  • Moersintowarti B. Narendra
Keywords: general movements, Prechtl's method, low birth weight, developmental disorders

Abstract

Background Nowadays, quality assessment of general movements
(GMs) in infants can be used as a tool to predict developmental
outcome. Until now, there is no published study in this field in
Indonesia.
Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of
GMs of newborn infants.
Methods A prospective study was done at neonatal ward, Dr.
Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya, between December 2006 and
January 2007. A single supine position video recording of newborns
at GMs preterm and writhing age was made using Precthl's method.
Infants were chosen consecutively among singletons above 28
week gestational age. The quality of GMs was assessed by means
of Gestalt perception by one of the authors, who had been trained
and certified in GMs. GMs were classified into: normal-optimal,
normal-suboptimal, mildly-abnormal, and definitely-abnormal.
Correlation tests were used to assess the relationship between
perinatal conditions and the quality of GMs.
Results 106 videos were recorded, and 100 were assessed
completely. Abnormal GMs were found in both 35 preterm
age (normal-optimal 2.9%; normal-suboptimal 28.6%; mildly-
abnormal45. 7o/o; definitely-abnormal22.9o/o) and 65 writhing age
(3.1 o/o; 41.5%; 41.5%; 13.8%, respectively) (P=0.285). There was
a weak negative correlation between birth weight and the quality
ofGMs (r=-0.20, P=0.044).
Conclusions The quality ofGMs in Indonesian newborn infants in
our study was predominantly abnormal, which puts these infants
at high risk for later developmental disorders. The lower the
infants'birth weight, the more likely for abnormal GMs.

Author Biographies

Ahmad Suryawan
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Airlangga
University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
Bambang Permono
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Airlangga
University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
Komang Ayu Witarini
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Airlangga
University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
Risa Etika
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Airlangga
University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
Fatimah lndarso
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Airlangga
University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
Moersintowarti B. Narendra
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Airlangga
University, Surabaya, Indonesia.

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Published
2016-09-15
How to Cite
1.
Suryawan A, Permono B, Witarini K, Etika R, lndarso F, Narendra M. Assessment of the quality of general movements in newborn infants: a tool to predict developmental disorders at an early age. PI [Internet]. 15Sep.2016 [cited 23Dec.2024];48(5):292-. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/609
Received 2016-09-12
Accepted 2016-09-12
Published 2016-09-15