To observe the neurobehavior of premature infants, Brazelton Neonatal Behavior-al "Assessment Scale was performed on 88 newborns, of gestational age 31weeks to 40 weeks. The infants were devided into ,5 groups according to gestational ages and means, standard deviation and correlation. coefficient on 26 items - of BNBAS were calculated.
High correlation between items and gestational age was observed in the dimension of ´social interactive process and only part of items in the state control was significandy correlated. The poorest correlation was found in the dimension of motoric interactive process.
Even though BNBAS is made for mature fullterm newborns, it can be used to evaluate the neurobehavior of premature infants with special consideration of pre-maturity. It becomes clear that since neurobehavior of premature infants are unstable, inconsistent and generally; poor in response to external stimuli, the relation-ship between the prematures and caretakers is likely to be less optimal than full-terms, which, in extreme case, can lead to child abuse, and which should be pre-vented by cooperation between the caretakers and medical personnels.
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