Adequacy of solar energy to keep babies warm.
OBJECTIVE
Solar energy could be used as an alternate energy source for keeping neonates warm especially in tropical countries. The present study investigated the efficacy of solar powered room heating system.


METHODS
Referral center for neonatal care.


METHODS
A fluid system heated by solar panels and circulated into a room was used to maintain room temperature. A servocontrolled heating device was used to regulate and maintain desired room temperature.


METHODS
Neonatal rectal temperature and room temperature.


RESULTS
Infants between 1750-2250 g were observed to require a mean room temperature of 32.5 degrees C to maintain normothermia. In 85 infants less than 1500 g, of the 5050 infant temperature records, only 3% showed a record less than 36 degrees C.


CONCLUSIONS
Solar powered room heating is effective in maintaining infant temperature and is cost-effective as compared to the existing warming devices.
Daga
S R
SR
Institute of Child Health, Grant Medical College, Bombay.
Sequera
D
D
Goel
S
S
Desai
B
B
Gajendragadkar
A
A
D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D012993:Solar Energy