Evaluation of the routine examination of nine month old infants.
During the month of March 1988, 880 (85.6%) of the 1027 babies born in New Zealand during the first week of June 1987 were examined by either a Plunket nurse or a paediatrician. Sixty-nine percent of the babies were European, 16.9% Maori, 6.8% from the Pacific Islands and 4.4% other nationalities. Previously unknown conditions or abnormalities that required further assessment or treatment were discovered in 8.3% of babies. Abnormalities were found in: 7.3% of European infants; 10.1% of the Maori infants; 18.3% of the Pacific Island infants and 2.6% of the others. Other topics considered of significance to the examiner but not directly associated with the nine month examination (eg, maternal health problem), were recorded in 24% of cases. There was no significant difference across the three main ethnic groups. Similar results were recorded irrespective of whether the examination was undertaken by a doctor or a nurse. We believe the nine month examination should be continued but the present policy of recommending that preferably general practitioners carry out the examination should be reassessed.
Binney
V M
VM
Research and Education Unit, Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, Dunedin.
Geddis
D C
DC
D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D009726:Nurses; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010372:Pediatrics; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014944:World Health Organization