A Study to Assess the Impact of Pathological Jaundice on Development during Early Childhood at Selected Hospitals, Puducherry, India

Abstract

Infants are important vulnerable groups in the segment of population and they are the determinants of health of nation. The future of the country depends on the care given to children. Jaundice is considered pathologic if it presents within the first 24 hours after birth, the total serum bilirubin level rises by more than 5 mg per dL (86 mol per L) per day or is higher than 17 mg per dL (290 mol per L), or an infant has signs and symptoms suggestive of serious illness. The present study aimed to assess the development among infants affected with pathological jaundice at selected hospital in puducherry. A descriptive research design was used and the study was carried out, 300 infants affected with pathological jaundice during newborn life were selected as the study sample using convenient sampling technique. The tools used for the data collection included newborn assessment tool, ages and stages questionnaire. Ages and stages questionnaire is a standardized questionnaire used worldwide to assess the development of children at all level of ages. Newborns with pathological jaundice were assessed for their growth. The newborns were followed during their regular visit to well-baby clinic, there development were assessed at 1 months (early infancy )and again at 12 months(late infancy) .On association between the early and late infants development, it was found that there was improvement in development between them which stated that there was impact of pathological jaundice on the development during early infancy whereas during late infancy they caught with the normal development showing improvement in overall domains. As per the statistical result, the calculated chisquare value was significant at 0.01 level (p<0.001).