ABSTRACT
During recent years, despite remarkable advances in medicine and survival rates of premature infants, they still suffer from neurological disability and abnormal development. Based on theories, complementary cares are necessary for growth and development in preterm infants and neurobehavioral function provide by appropriate infant stimulations. The aim of this research is to study the effects of holly Quran recitation on physiological responses in premature infants. In a randomized control trail and double blind study, from August through September 2009, 120 premature infants who admitted to the NICU of Shahid Akbarabadi hospital, Tehran and had inclusion criteria of this study, were randomly assigned to two groups: control group and holly Quran recitation group, and observed for three dependent variables; oxygen saturation levels, heart rate, respiration rate. Holly Quran recitation was including 20 minutes recitation of Yusuf Quaranic chapters, by Shahhat Mohammad Anvar sound that was played for experimental group via headphone of the morning shift. The volume range was 50-60 db. Two groups were observed for physiological responses from 10 minutes before to 10 minutes after intervention by monitor, and recorded numerous before and 10, 20, 30 minutes after beginning of intervention, were used to analysis. Our results showed that the mean of respiratory and heart rate significantly decreased and oxygen saturation levels increased in Quran group as compared to the basic measurement of this changes continued to 10 minutes after intervention [P < 0.001]. The mean change of three variables in the end of intervention and after 10 minutes was significantly different between two groups [P < 0.001]. Holly Quran recitation can be used as a complementary and supportive care to improve of physiologic state in premature infant; because it effects on the physiological responses in premature infants comprising oxygen saturation level, respiration and heart rate