Evaluation of hypothermia frequency in first 24 hours of life in alive neonates in Ahvaz Imam Khomeini hospital

Neonatal hypothermia is a frequent medical problem in low socioeconomic Countries. It is a significant perinatal problem contributes to increase morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of neonatal hypothermia and associated risk factors. A cross-sectional and randomized study of neonatal hypothermia was performed on 1871 newborns delivered during 12 months period, form October 2002 to September 2003, at Imam Khomeini hospital of Ahvaz. Auxiliary temperature measurement was made during the first 24 hours period after birth randomly.The study showed that 7.48 % of the newborns were hypothermic. Cold stress and moderate hypothermia occurred in 72.8 and 27.2 % of newborns respectively. Severe hypothermia was not detected in any of them. The most frequency of hypothermia occurred during 15-20 hours after birth. The frequency of hypothermia in low birth weight infants was 25.7 % (P<0.05). Breast feeding was performed in 65.7 % of infants in first hour of life and 37.9 % of hypothermic infants belong to this group (P<0.05). Route of delivery, seasons, gender and bathing did not affect the frequency of hypothermia. No significant differences in the frequency of hypothermia between Winter and Summer seasons were recorded. the finding of this study demonstrated that low-birth weight and feeding after first hour of life was significantly associated with neonatal hypothermia. It is essential that adequate training of care taking staff on these findings will be useful in prevention of this phenomenon