1Associate Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Udupi district, Karnataka, India
2Professor and Incharge, Dept of Pediatrics, NICU,Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Udupi district, Karnataka, India
3Professor and HoD, Dept of Pediatric Surgery, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Udupi district, Karnataka, India
4Professor, Dept of Pediatrics, NICU, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Udupi district, Karnataka, India
5Associate Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing, S chool of Allied Health Sciences (SOAHS), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
6Associate Professor-Statistics, Dept. of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Udupi district, Karnataka, India
The preterm infants admitted to a high-tech Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are vulnerable to noise in the environment.
To determine the physiological responses of preterm infants exposed to noise in the NICU.
Noise levels in the NICU were measured using calibrated Sound Level Meter (SLM) i.e, Hand Held Analyzer Type 2250, Brüel and Kjær, Denmark. The physiological responses of preterm infants were recorded in the Phillips IntelliVue MP20 Junior multichannel monitors.
The maximum hourly equivalent sound LAeq of 62.12 + 2.24 dB A was found on the 2nd day of the measurement that was carried out for a week's time. The preterm infants cared for in the open care system were exposed to noise levels as high as 78.89 dB A over a period of 24 hours. There was a slight increase in heart rate (HR) on the second day, third day and sixth day of the measurement. Respiratory rate (RR) and Oxygen saturation (SpO2) were within normal range.
The study has found that preterm infants were exposed to noise above the recommended levels on a day-to-day basis.
physiological responses, preterm infants, noise, NICU
