The Effectiveness of Phototherapy with Low Cost White Curtains versus Routine Phototherapy among Newborns Admitted with Neonatal Jaundice

Neonatal jaundice is an important problem in the first week of life. Approximately 70 % of term and 80 % of preterm babies develop jaundice in the first week of life, and about 10 % of breastfed babies are still jaundiced at 1 month of age. purpose To study The Effectiveness Of Phototherapy With Low Cost White Curtains Versus Routine Phototherapy Among Newborns Admitted With Neonatal Jaundice. Materials and methods Experimental study with two group pre test post test design was used to compare the effectiveness of phototherapy with low cost white curtain (n=30) versus routine phototherapy without curtain (n=30) in NICU at Krishna hospital, Karad. Data collection tools included, Kramer scale and Laboratory investigation, observation checklist regarding selected behavioral and physiological responses. Result The decrease of median total serum bilirubin levels after 24 and 48 hours of phototherapy was significantly greater in the experimental group (14.4 and 13.8 respectively) than in the control group ( 13.85 and 12.15 respectively), both P 0.05). Conclusion Hanging low cost white curtains around phototherapy units significantly increases efficacy of phototherapy in the treatment of neonatal jaundice without evidence of any adverse effects.