Assessment of Primitive Reflexes in High -risk Newborns at Pediatric Wards in Al-Amara Hospital

Abstract

Background: Primitive reflexes are "survival" reflexes that newborns should have to survive the first few weeks of life. Methodology: During January to May 2025, 423 newborns were delivered at Al-Amara Hospitals' (A-Hakeem Teaching Hospital, Misan Child and Maternity Hospital) in Iraq. We selected 100 newborns with Primitive reflexes at random for a cross-sectional investigation. The quantitative variables' frequency, percentage, and mean score were computed using measures. Results: The result show that all variable items mean score were good, except the item <37weeks of gestational age, were a poor mean score 6.2 (47.7%) for (n=13) of the <37 weeks of gestational age. Conclusion: Primitive reflexes response good when the babies reach the normal gestational age 42 weeks. Recommendation: Good prenatal care for mothers will help the mother to delivery with the normal gestational age with no problems for newborn babies.