EFFECT OF CLING WRAP ON BODY TEMPERATURE AND WEIGHT AMONG LOW BIRTH WEIGHT NEONATES ADMITTED IN SICK NEWBORN CARE UNIT OF SELECTED MEDICAL COLLEGES OF WEST BENGAL

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major challenging public health problem in developing countries. LBW neonates are more susceptible to evaporative heat loss and develop hypothermia immediately after birth that may lead to morbidity and mortality. An experimental study was undertaken among low birth weight neonates in selected medical colleges of West Bengal, with the objectives of effect of cling wrap on body weight and temperature among LBW neonates. Methods: 60 (E =30 & C= 30) subjects were recruited by simple random sampling technique (along with neonatal characteristics). Data were collected through record analysis proforma, digital baby weighing scale and digital thermometer. All tools were tested for validity and reliability and instruments were calibrated before data collection. Permission obtained from Ethics committee before data collection. Results: The findings revealed that most of the subjects (76.67%) had hypothermia in pretest and majority of the subjects (60%) had hypothermia in posttest in control group and most of the subjects (83.33%) had hypothermia before use of cling wrap whereas no one had hypothermia after the use of cling wrap in experimental group. There was significant difference in body temperature between control and experimental group for all five days in post-test at 0.05 level of significance. There was no significant difference in body weight between the control and experimental group of neonates but weight loss is less in experimental group than control group which is not statistically significant for all five days in posttest. The results also showed the significant association between post-test level of thermoregulation and weight at birth in control group of neonates. Conclusion: Therefore, use of cling wrap might be a simple innovative intervention for maintaining body temperature and preventing weight loss to some extent among LBW neonates.