A study on neonatal behaviour comparing between two groups from different cultural backgrounds

Abstract

Fifty-one British newborn infants and 51 Japanese newborn infants were compared using Prechtl's neonatal neurological examination and Brazelton's neonatal behavioural assessment scale on the 5th day after birth. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. British infants were more responsive to the stimuli displayed and showed better self-quieting activity and motor performance than Japanese infants and there were differences in the course of state change and of habituation; however, some responses may have been affected by daily posture. These results are partly supported by the findings of other studies. As conditions which have previously been reported to affect neonatal status were matched between the two groups, with cultural background being the only exception, it can be said that the differences arose from the cultural background.