Prevention of neonatal hypothermia in Himalayan villages. Role of the domiciliary caretaker
Iyengar, S.D.; Bhakoo, O.N.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine 43(3): 293-296
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3232 PMID: 1816665 Document Number: 321867
Given serveer winters at high altitudes, prevention of environmental neonatal hypothermia is of particular importance in Himalayan villages. This is a retrospective study of traditional concepts and practices for the prevention of neonatal hypothermia. 202 babies were studied from a population of 16,425 in three districts of a Himalayan state of North India. The community was found to believe that newborns, expecially if underweight are vulnerable to cold induced disease for the first few months of life. A warm heated room for delivery and lying-in, early rooming in, oil massage and layers of warm clothing are traditional means for thermo-regulation as practices by mothers, birth attendants and relatives. The ritual practice of bathing immediately after birth and then up to three times a each day even in winter is not preceived by them to provoke hypothermia. For up to one month postpartum mothers are believed to be a risk for cold induced disease.