Effectiveness of Oil Massage Therapy on Weight and Neurobehavioral Response among Low Birth Weight Infants

An interventional study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of oil massage therapy among low birth weight infant at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore. Quasi experimental-nonequivalent control group design was adopted for this study. A sample of 14 infants were selected and assigned randomly to experimental and control group. The baseline data were collected from the infants record, weight was assessed by electronic weighing scale and neurobehavioral response was assessed by Modified Brazelton-s Neurobehavioral Assessment Scale for both experimental and control group. Coconut Oil massage was done for a duration of 15 mins to infants in experimental group 3 times a day in 4 hours interval. Weight was assessed before and after the intervention and neurobehavioral response was assessed on the first and 10th day of intervention. Weight and neurobehavioral response of experimental group were compared with control group. The results reveal that there is a significant difference in weight and neurobehavioral responses after the oil massage among infants in experimental group, when compared to the infant in control group