EFFECTIVENESS OF POLYETHYLENE SKIN WRAP IN PREVENTION OF HYPOTHERMIA IN PRETERM AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT NEONATES

Abstract

Objective: To establish the effectiveness of polyethylene skin wrap in prevention of neonatal hypothermia in preterm and low birth weight neonates. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pediatrics, Combined Military Hospital Quetta, from May 2015 to Apr 2017. Methodology: A total of 176 neonates were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, through non-probability consecutive sampling. Eighty eight newborns were randomly distributed to each of group “A” and “B” by lottery method. The intervention group “A” infants were wrapped in a polyethylene skin wrap from shoulders down while the control group “B” newborns were wrapped with conventional blankets. After shifting to neonatal intensive care unit, axillary temperatures were recorded with similar pediatric digital thermometers upon admission and after one hour and two hours following admission in the two groups. Results: The mean temperatures measured at one hour and two hours after admission showed significant statistical improvements in the intervention group as compared to the control group (<0.05). Conclusion: The use of polyethylene skin wrap in preterm and low birth weight neonates potentially offers a useful intervenetion in prevention of neonatal hypothermia.

Keywords

• hypothermia
• low birth weight
• preterm
• polyethylene skin wrap