Assessment of Gestational Age using New Ballard Examination in High-Risk Infants.
10.4040/jkan.2002.32.2.176
- Author:
Young Mee AHN
1
;
Sang Mi LEE
Author Information
1. Inha University, Department of Nursing, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
High-risk newborn;
Maturity;
Ballard examination;
Gestational age
- MeSH:
Apgar Score;
Birth Weight;
Female;
Gestational Age*;
Humans;
Infant*;
Infant, Newborn;
Male;
Nursing Care;
Physical Examination
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2002;32(2):176-185
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Knowing the accurate GA is critical in nursing care of high-risk newborns. A descriptive study was performed to examine the reliability and clinical applicability of the new Ballard examination (NBE) in high-risk infants. METHOD: A NBE was performed to measure GA by assessing the neuromuscular and physical maturity in the course of physical examination of a convenient sample of 50 high-risk infants. RESULTS: 1) There was a highly correlation between both the GA by LMP (GA-LMP) and GA by NBE (GA-NBE) (r = .894, p = .000) 2) There was a greater positive relationship in neuromuscular maturity than physical maturity in the GA-NBE of the high-risk newborn (r = .657 versus r = .915, p<. 05). 3) The high-risk infants were thoes with congenital anomalies, prematurity, and RDS(Respiratory Distress Syndrome). Male infants showed a higher neuromuscular maturity, compared to female infants. 4) There was a positive correlation between neuromuscular, physical, total maturity, GA-LMP and GA-NBE in the birth weight, 1 minute Apgar score. CONCLUSION: The study supports the reliability an clinical relevance of NBE in assessment of the accurate GA in high-risk infants.
