Touch detection of neonatal hypothermia in Nepal.

Abstract

The use of touch by health workers to detect hypothermia was examined in 250 newborns in Nepal. Palpation of the feet shows fair interobserver agreement ( = 0.4-0.7) and high sensitivity (>80%) but low specificity (36%-74%) compared with axillary thermometry. Traditional birth attendants should feel an infant's feet to detect hypothermia.

Citation

Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition (2006) 91 (5) F367-F368 [doi:10.1136/adc.2005.086165]

Published 1 January 2006