PREVALENCE OF HYPOTHERMIA AMONG NORMAL TERM NEONATES IN A SOUTH INDIAN CITY AND ASSESSMENT OF PRACTICE AND KNOWLEDGE RISK FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS ? A HOSPITAL BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Body temperature of a new born below 36.5˚C in axilla is neonatal hypothermia. Hypothermia has serious health concerns in a developing child and may lead to short stature, delayed growth and even death. A cross sectional study was done at a secondary care hospital in Erode city to estimate the prevalence of neonatal hypothermia among normal term neonates and to determine practice and knowledge risk factors among postnatal mothers. Consecutive sample of all healthy term new born infants born during the winter months of December 2014-January 2015 were measured consecutively, of 2 temperatures, once in the morning and evening. Total number of mothers and babies studied were 204. The prevalence of hypothermia was 44.1% [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 37.29-50.91%]. Number of hypothermic episodes were 134 (out of 204; 32.84%). Babies that were by the mothers’ side, [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 3.579, 95% CI 1.162 - 11.026], head covered (AOR 15.769, 95% CI 1.602 ? 155.257) and breast fed within one hour of birth (AOR 3.324, 95% CI 1.219 ? 9.067) were significantly protected from hypothermia. The knowledge regarding neonatal thermo-regulation was poor with misconceptions like babies shiver (p = 0.014; AOR 4.599, 95% CI 1.308 ? 16.172). Thus, prevalence of neonatal hypothermia was considerably high despite good neonatal warm chain practices observed. The knowledge on neonatal thermoregulation among the mothers was poor and hence regular health education is warranted.