Health and developmental status of infants at birth and at four months as a function of maternal health index scores.

In the present study 28 children were evaluated at the neonatal period and at four months to determine if development could be predicted prenatally by the use of the Maternal Health Index. Fifteen of the 28 infants had abnormalities at the neonatal examination and five had remaining abnormalities at four months. Among the most frequently seen abnormalities were hip clicks and high pitched cries. The results of the study indicated that the Maternal Health Index has not predicted the abnormalities seen in these infants.