Thermal control of the newborn

Kangaroo. 1994 Jul;3(1):67-8.

Abstract

PIP: The World Health Organization (WHO) has produced a 1-day training module for health professionals to achieve better thermal control of newborns in health facilities. Hypothermia has long been recognized as a significant contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality, and recent reports indicate an incidence of 67% among all neonates born outside of a hospital in Ethiopia, 80% of infants born in hospital in Nepal, and 6.7/1000 of infants in a large series of births studied in China. As part of its efforts, WHO has also issued a guide explaining the principles and methods for preventing and treating hypothermia. The guide recommends 1) ensuring a clean, warm, draft-free delivery room; 2) immediate drying of the newborn; 3) wrapping the baby and giving it to the mother immediately after birth; 4) initiating breast feeding immediately after birth; 5) putting a warm cap on the baby's head; 6) covering the baby and the mother together; 7) ensuring warm, safe transport, if necessary; and 8) appropriate training for those involved in births and subsequent newborn care.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Biology
  • Body Temperature*
  • Curriculum*
  • Demography
  • Disease
  • Education
  • Infant Mortality*
  • Infant*
  • International Agencies
  • Morbidity*
  • Mortality
  • Organizations
  • Physiology
  • Population
  • Population Characteristics
  • Population Dynamics
  • United Nations
  • World Health Organization*