Abstract
Background: Thermoregulation by nurses and midwives is important for a full-term newborn’s survival, growth, and development. Newborn thermoregulation is a complex and critical physiological function influenced by many factors, of which environmental control is one. Nurses and midwives play an important role in maintaining the newborn’s temperature and need sufficient knowledge about thermoregulation. Globally, newborn hypothermia is a common and critical condition, which is increasingly recognised as a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Hypothermia in full-term newborns has the potential to cause hypoxia, which may result in neurological injuries due to hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Hypoxicischaemic encephalopathy in newborns is one of the primary causes of newborn litigation cases. Nurses and midwives must have updated knowledge of the physiology of full-term newborn thermoregulation to prevent physiological harm in the newborn, subsequently averting medico-legal litigation.
Research purpose: Thermoregulation in newborns is often misunderstood and overlooked. What do nurses and midwives need to know about thermoregulation in newborns, and why is it so important? The researcher set out to determine nurses’ and midwives’ knowledge of thermoregulation in newborns to answer these questions. Based on the research findings, recommendations were made.
Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, and contextual research design was used in conjunction with a non-probability purposive sampling method. A sample size of 105 nurses and midwives was the respondents in this study. An online self-report questionnaire was used to obtain data. The research was conducted in a private hospital group. The validity and reliability of the research instrument were checked and validated. Ethical clearance was obtained from the university, the group of hospitals’ head office and individual private hospitals. Ethical principles were also maintained throughout the study.
Data analysis: Collected data were analysed and presented as descriptive statistics. Validity and reliability were maintained throughout the data analysis process.
Results: Among the 105 nurses and midwives, only 53 (50%) were exposed to full-term newborn thermoregulation teaching during their training. Only 50 (47%) respondents knew the normal temperature range for a full-term newborn, 76 (72%) could define hypothermia, and 36 (34%) had knowledge of the processes involved when the full-term newborn loses heat.
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Conclusion: Generally insufficient knowledge was found regarding full-term newborn thermoregulation physiology. Knowledge (theoretical and practical) of full-term newborn thermoregulation among the nurses and midwives was found to be inadequate. Understanding nurses’ and midwives’ knowledge of newborn thermoregulation may assist in determining whether additional training on the topic is required at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and ensure that policies and procedures are in place in birthing and maternity units.
Keywords: nurses and midwives, knowledge, thermoregulation, full-term newborn, private hospital group