Abstract
Low-cost care strategies can be implemented to avert the morbidity and mortality associated with hypothermia in preterm neonates. To determine the effect of massage therapy on body temperature of preterm neonates. A quasi-experimental design was conducted among 72 preterm neonates at a level II special care nursery in Western Kenya. Neonates were recruited on the third day of life and followed up for 10 days. Neonates in the intervention group were massaged three times a day for 15 minutes. Body temperature was monitored and recorded before, during and after each therapy session. Neonates in the control group received routine care: temperature monitoring three times a day, feeding and diaper change. Neonates who received massage had higher mean body temperature than the control group during therapy on day 6 (p = .019) and after therapy on day 6 (p = .017) and day 8 (p = .005). A comparison within massage group (before/during, during/after, before/after) showed an increase in mean body temperature during therapy compared to before therapy (p <.001) and after therapy compared to before therapy (p <.001). Massage therapy increases body temperature in preterm neonates.
Highlights
Low-cost care strategies can be implemented to avert the morbidity and mortality associated with hypothermia in preterm neonates
A quasi-experimental design was conducted among 72 preterm neonates at a level II special care nursery in Western Kenya
Out of the 72 singleton preterm neonates who were recruited, only 60 (30 in each group) completed the study; 10 participants (6 in treatment group and 4 in control group) were discharged before the 12th day of life while 2 neonates in the control group died before completing the study
Summary
Low-cost care strategies can be implemented to avert the morbidity and mortality associated with hypothermia in preterm neonates. Objective: To determine the effect of massage therapy on body temperature of preterm neonates. Neonates in the intervention group were massaged three times a day for 15 minutes. Neonates in the control group received routine care: temperature monitoring three times a day, feeding and diaper change. Results: Neonates who received massage had higher mean body temperature than the control group during therapy on day 6 (p = .019) and after therapy on day 6 (p = .017) and day 8 (p = .005). Conclusion: Massage therapy increases body temperature in preterm neonates. Effect of massage therapy on preterm neonate’s body temperature.
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