EFFECTS OF TOUCH ON
GROWTH AND MENTALITY DEVELOPMENT IN NORMAL INFANTS
Liu Chunyang
Chinese Pediatric Society Collaborative Study Group on TOUCH
Objective: To determine the effects of conducting TOUCH
to infants upon their growth and mental development, sleeping and disease
conditions.
Methods: 310 normal infants of 0~6 months old were
divided randomly into TOUCH group (N=208) and control group (N=102).
Infants of TOUCH group were conducted TOUCHING 2-3 times/day during a
period that lasted at least 3 months. Intelligence tests were performed to
infants of both groups. Data such as height, weight, circumference of head
and chest, sleeping, feeding and disease conditions etc were recorded.
Results: 1. Values of weight gain and chest
circumferences of infants joining touch group from 0 month after birth were
improved. 2. For infants under 3 months old, average scores of mental
development index (MDI) and psycho-motor development index (PDI) as well as
sleeping condition of those of TOUCH group were improved. For infants older
than 3 months, no significant difference was found in scores of MDI and PDI
and sleeping conditions between TOUCH and control group.
Conclusion: 1. Growth and mental development, and
sleeping condition of infants can be improved by TOUCH, and the earlier to
conduct touch, the better the results will be. 2. Good results may be
acquired by incorporating TOUCH into daily health caring. It is possible to
implement TOUCH in China under present situation.