Home › Archive › Volume 4, Issue 2
M. Lakshmi Prasanna1
Erna Judith Roach
Ms. Angelin
Background: Many new born babies are more prone to hypothermia, during the transition period of their birth. This is more evident and is of concern specially in preterm new born when compared to full term babies for various reasons, major being the physiological immaturity to confront the change in temperatures. Purpose: Though many conventional methods such as radiant warmers are available, the effectiveness of vinyl bags in prevention of hypothermia among preterm babies when compared to Radiant warmer was evaluated. Methods and Materials: A quasi experimental study with post -test only design, using convenient sampling techniques was undertaken. The study included total 58 preterm babies, with 29 in Control group getting standard care under radiant warmer and 29 in Exp erimental group with vinyl bag for preventing hypothermia. Vital parameters like heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were analysed with temperature being the main parameter for comparing between the standard care and as well as vinyl bag car e. The intervention in both the groups is provided for a period of 6 hours immediately after the baby is born with temperature and oxygen saturation being analysed at an interval of each of hour with heart rate and respiratory rate at an interval of fiftee n minutes. Results: The mean difference in temperature between the Standard care and vinyl bag care was found to be 1.31 at 95% confidence interval (âtâ =4.17, p=0.01) concluding that Vinyl bags are effective in preventing hypothermia among Newborns.
Keywords: Hypothermia, Preterm Babies, Vinyl Bags, Standard Care (Radiant Warmer)