The Effect of Massage Stimulation on the General Movements Quality in Breastfed Preterm Infant

Abstract

General movements (GMs) assessment is one of the modalities to detect abnormal infant development early, the examination of preterm infant development is very important. Preterm infant has a long-term health impact and the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality, need breast milk as the best nutrition and also need stimulation, one of which is massage. This study aim to analyze massage stimulation effect on the general movements in breastfed preterm infant in Dr. Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya. A randomize control group pre-test post-test design was conducted on preterm infant, 39 babies were enrolled. Massage stimulation was done for 10 consecutive days 3 times in the neonatal ward while observing the condition. The quality assessment of GMs is according to the standardization of the Prechtl method, through two stages, taking video recording and editing GMs, and analysis the video recordings of GMs. Statistical by comparison test. The quality of preterm GMs in massage group (85.7%) and control group (69.6%) with p=0.287. The quality of GMs writhing in the massage group was dominated by abnormal GMs (65%), in control group were dominated by normal (63.2%) with p=0.150. In the fidgety GMs, the massage group (75%) and not massage (78.9%) were dominated by normal GMs, with p=1.000. There were no differences in the quality of preterm GMs, writhing GMs and fidgety GMs for preterm infants in both group.