Research Article
Roberta Lins Gonçalves,
Abstract
Background: According to the World Health Organization preterm birth is the most common direct cause of newborn mortality. Preterm birth and being small for gestational age which are the reasons for low-birth-weight (LBW), are also important indirect causes of neonatal deaths. LBW contributes to 60% to 80% of all neonatal deaths. In addition to the high mortality rate preterm newborns (PTNB), especially LBW, there are many barriers to the normal development. In this way, some practices have been adopted to favor the humanized assistance to the baby and his family. The hot tub, known in Brazil as ofurô, has been use in Brazil as a form of aquatic physiotherapy with the purpose of contributing to the reduction of stress, length of hospital stay and favoring the weight gain of PTNB with LBW. It consists of immersing the PTNB in hot tub in warm water up to shoulder height to simulate the sensation of the mother's uterus. However, there are few studies evaluating the repercussions of the subject. Objective: To evaluate the cardiorespiratory repercussions heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen pulse saturation and the pain of PTNB submitted to the hot tub were observed. Methodological design: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in an intermediate care unit of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, between Months from March to November 2016. Twenty-one PTNB which have undergone to the hot tub were observed in three moments: before (moment 1), during (moment 2) and after (moment 3) hot tub. Categorical variables were evaluated by frequency, percentages, and the numerical by means of mean, median and standard deviation. 0.05 of significance was adopted. Results: The hot tub did not present cardiorespiratory changes in the PTNB analyzed and did not cause pain or stress or any type of intercurrence. Clinically there was a favorable response to conduct. It was possible to observe that the PTNB during the hot tub remained calm and relaxed, and in many situations, they presented sleepiness and yawning demonstrating well-being with the conduct. Conclusion: The hot tub did not present cardiorespiratory alterations in the low birth weight PTNB analyzed and did not cause pain, stress, or any kind of intercurrence, being a safe conduct in this regard.