Abstract

This quasi experimental study explored the effects of nonnutritive sucking opportunities on the premature's behavioral habituation, orientation and state control using the Mann-Whitney U-Test. The problem was to determine if experimental infants receiving regular nonnutritive sucking opportunities would show a difference in behavior when compared to a control group.

The sample was a purposive convenience sample of 15 infants. All infants were between the conceptual age of 28-34 weeks and were considered "stable" infants. Neurological examinations, consisting of selected segments of the Brazelton Newborn Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS), were performed on all infants on the day of entry into the study and after 2 weeks.

Covariates showed a slight conceptual age difference of one week greater in the experimental group. Groups were comparable in sex of the infants. The experimental infants had few omissions of nonnutritive sucking opportunities and received considerable more nonnutritive sucking opportunities as part of their experimental care.

The first hypothesis stated that there will be no significant statistical difference (p=0.05) in the habituation response of premature infants receiving nonnutritive sucking opportunities and premature infants not receiving nonnutritive sucking opportunities. The initial habituation group score demonstrated that the experimental group had a statistical advantage over the control group (p=0.046). The final group score analysis demonstrated the experimental infants changed, however, to the very significant level (p=0.012).

The second hypothesis stated that there will be no significant statistical difference (p=0.05) in behavioral orientation of premature infants receiving nonnutritive sucking opportunities and premature infants not receiving nonnutritive sucking opportunities. The group score analysis showed the experimental infants changed significantly (p=0.035) when compared to a control group.

The third hypothesis stated that there will be no significant statistical differences (p=0.05) in the state control of premature infants receiving nonnutritive sucking opportunities and premature infants not receiving nonnutritive sucking opportunities. The experimental group demonstrated a difference in state control of p=0.003 significance.

In view of these findings it is recommended that nonnutritive sucking opportunities be offered on a regular basis to premature infants.

LLU Discipline

Nursing

Department

Nursing

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Clarice Woodward

Second Advisor

Marcia Davis

Third Advisor

Chul Cha

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1985

Date (Title Page)

3-1985

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Infant, Premature; Sucking Behavior -- in infancy & childhood

Type

Thesis

Page Count

ix; 97

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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