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Differences in pain expression between male and female newborn infants
R Guinsburg1, C de Araújo Peres, M F Branco de Almeida
1Neonatal Division, Federal University of São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.
Pain
|February 29, 2000
Summary
Newborn female infants show more pain responses than males during procedures. This study investigated neonatal gender differences in pain expression in preterm and term infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pain research
- Pediatric medicine
Background:
- Neonatal pain expression is innate, preceding learned behaviors.
- Understanding gender differences in infant pain is crucial for effective pain management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-based differences in pain expression among preterm and term neonates.
- To analyze pain behaviors using validated scoring systems.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-five neonates (28-42 weeks gestational age) underwent capillary puncture.
- Pain was assessed using the Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS) and Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS).
- Data collected at rest, during, and post-procedure (0, 1, 3, 5 min).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in NFCS scores observed across study periods (P<0.000001).
- A significant interaction between NFCS scores and gender over time was found (P=0.025).
- Female neonates exhibited more facial pain indicators than males post-procedure.
Conclusions:
- Female neonates display heightened facial pain expressions compared to males during and shortly after painful stimuli.
- Potential differences in pain processing or expression between sexes may underlie these findings.