A study to assess the effectiveness of prone position on oxygen saturation among preterm babies in selected hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu

BACKGROUND: An infant whose birth weight less than 2500g, regardless of their gestational age is called low birth weight infants. Reduction in infant and child mortality is a major goal of strategy to achieve health for all. The major contribution of infant death is by a neonate which is a serious concern, since nearly 5 million neonates die each year in the world of which 96% are in the developing countries, effective reduction of such high neonatal death rate remains a major global challenge in 21st century. The investigator, through self experience analysed the need for implementing the different positions that may be favourable to the preterm babies with low cost. The findings of this experiment may also be adopted in settings with lesser facilities. These viewpoints motivated me to experiment to find the best position which provides good heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation for preterm babies. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: A study to assess the effectiveness of prone position on oxygen saturation among preterm babies in selected hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess and compare the pretest and post test level of oxygen saturation among preterm babies in study and in control group. 2. To determine the effectiveness of prone position on the level of oxygen saturation among preterm babies in study group. 3. To associate the post test level of oxygen saturation among preterm in study and control group with their selected demographic variable. Research Design: In this present study experimental research design was selected. Setting: The present study was conducted in Neonatal intensive care unit SIMS Hospitals, Chennai. Participants: Total participants were 60 preterm babies in NICU. The experimental group 30 and control group 30 who met the inclusion criteria were selected. METHOD: Sample was selected by non probability convenient sampling. The investigator introduced herself to the parents and developed a good rapport and made them to co operate with the study. After getting demographic data, pre- test was done with the help of the prepared tool. After the pre-test ,prone position was given for two hours and duly the period preterm babies assessed by using the same tool. Based on the collection data, effectiveness was found by comparing the prone &supine position data were analyzed by using Paired ‘t’ test and chi square test. RESULT: Compares the respiratory rate between the prone and supine position. It shows there is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) after 90 minutes of first day and second day 60 minutes onwards. Statistical significance was calculated using student independent t test. Compares the oxygen saturation between the prone and supine position. It shows there is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) after first day 30 minutes onwards. Statistical significance was calculated using student independent t-test. A significant difference was found between physiological parameters of respiration prior to prone position and two hours after the intervention. The findings of this study indicated that prone position in respiratory distress had a favorable impact physiological parameters of respiration. CONCLUSION: One of the essential component of the newborn care is correct positioning as positioning can affect the baby’s body system positively or negatively. By different positioning of infants, there are a variety of physiological outcomes affected including respiratory function, hemodynamic, neuromotor development, gastric function and sleep characteristics. Therefore, the goals of adaptive position are improving physiologic status, enhancing motor control, reducing stress, and weight gain. The optimal posture for improving the physiological parameters of neonates were discussed in this study. The analysis of data provides evidence that prone positioning in neonates proved in improving oxygen saturation and reducing the respiratory rate than supine position