Point-of-admission hypothermia among high-risk Nigerian newborns.
BACKGROUND
Facilities which manage high-risk babies should frequently assess the burden of hypothermia and strive to reduce the incidence.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and outcome of point-of-admission hypothermia among hospitalized babies.


METHODS
The axillary temperatures of consecutive admissions into a Nigerian Newborn Unit were recorded. Temperature <36.5 degrees C defined hypothermia. The biodata and outcome of these babies were studied.


RESULTS
Of 150 babies aged 0 to 648 hours, 93 had hypothermia with an incidence of 62%. Mild and moderate hypothermia accounted for 47.3% and 52.7% respectively. The incidence of hypothermia was highest (72.4%) among babies aged less than 24 hours. It was also higher among out-born babies compared to in-born babies (64.4% vs 58.3%). Preterm babies had significantly higher incidence of hypothermia (82.5%) compared with 54.5% of term babies (RR = 1.51; CI = 1.21 - 1.89). The incidence of hypothermia was also highest (93.3%) among very-low-birth-weight babies. The Case-Fatality-Rate was significantly higher among hypothermic babies (37.6% vs 16.7%; RR = 2.26, CI = 1.14 - 4.48) and among out-born hypothermic babies (50% vs 17.1%; RR = 0.34, CI = 0.16 - 0.74). CFR was highest among hypothermic babies with severe respiratory distress, sepsis, preterm birth and asphyxia.


CONCLUSIONS
The high incidence and poor outcome of hypothermia among high-risk babies is important. The use of the 'warm chain' and skin-to-skin contact between mother and her infant into routine delivery services in health facilities and at home may be useful.
Department of Paediatrics, College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Nigeria. tinuade_ogunlesi@yahoo.co.uk
Tinuade A
TA
Ogunlesi
Olusoga B
OB
Ogunfowora
Folashade A
FA
Adekanmbi
Bolanle M
BM
Fetuga
Durotoye M
DM
Olanrewaju
D001724:Birth Weight; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015994:Incidence; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors