[ effect of educational intervention on continuous breast feeding in low birth weight infants]

Human milk plays a vital role in growth and development of infants especially in low birth weight and premature neonates. Lack of mothers' sufficient knowledge and also inadequate support given could lead to failure in continuous breast feeding. This study was performed to determine the effects of interventional education on continuous breast feeding in low birth weight and premature newborns. In this interventional study, 55 mothers of low birth weight infants, hospitalized in neonatal ward at Amirkolah children hospital in Babol [Iran], were selected by convenience sampling method. The population study was randomly divided into two study groups marked as experimental group [n=26] and control group [n=29]. The data collection tools were a questionnaire including parent and infant demographic information and a recording sheet to register the type of infants' diet. Interventional education was given both theoretically and practically to those in experimental group following the evaluation of mothers and neonates regarding the mothers' learning needs about breast-feeding. The members of control group were only taken care of according to the hospital routine. All study subjects were followed for three months after discharge to assess their nutritional diet through asking the mothers about continuation or discontinuation of breast-feeding and delivery of necessary instructions to mothers in experimental group having problem with breast feeding and repetition of educational program if needed. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Three months of exclusively continuous breast-feeding in experimental group led to a significant difference between two groups [p=0.03]. The decline in progress of breast feeding during the similar period in control group was quite noticeable compared to experimental group. Based on findings, delivery of necessary education and counseling on breast feeding to mothers according to their needs could enhance the success of continuous breast feeding practice by mothers

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase G6PD deficiency

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, the most worldwide common enzyme deficiency, causes a spectrum of diseases including neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, acute and chronic hemolysis. Persons with this condition also may be asymptomatic. This X-linked inherited disorder most commonly affects persons of African, Asian, Mediterranean, or middle-Eastern descent. Approximately 400 million people are affected in the world. Prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Tehran was 2.1% [3.6% boys- 0.6% girls] in Babol [12.5% boys, 4.1% girls] in Sari [14.3% boys, 3% girls]. This condition usually is diagnosed by fluorescent spot test. Different gene mutation different levels of enzyme deficiency, with classes assigned to various degrees of deficiency and disease manifestation. Acute hemolysis is usually caused by exposure to an oxidative stressor in the form of oxidative drug or fava beans and is self-limited, but in rare instances it can be severe enough to warrant a blood transfusion. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia may require treatment with phototherapy or exchange transfusion to prevent kernicterus. Variant that causes chronic hemolysis is uncommon and is related to sporadic gene mutations. The prevalence of molecular mutation varied in north of Iran, Mazandaran [66.25% Mediterranean, 27% Cantham and 6.75% Cosensa]. Gilan [86.4% Mediterranean, 9.7% Cantham], Golestan [69% Mediterranean, 2.67% Cantham]. The most important way for prevention is screening of neonate for G6PD deficiency and avoidance of exposure to oxidant agent, Fava bean and also early treatment of neonatal jaundice

[Role of discharge planning for mothers on growth and developmental indicators in LBW newborns]

Low birth weight [LBW] infants are susceptible to many diseases such as sepsis, growth and developmental disorders, and most of them need special care. This study was carried out to determine the effects of discharge planning for mothers on growth and developmental indicators in low birth weight infants in Amirkola hospital. In this study, 55 LBW infants and their mothers were randomly selected and divided into 2 groups with the random allocation technique [29 in control group and 26 in test group]. It was used a questionnaire including family demographic characteristics, information related to health condition of newborn, growth indicators [weight, height and head circumference] and developmental indexes [reflexes]. Discharge planning was performed in test group considering mother's learning needs, while the participants in the control group received usual services from nursing staff. Infants after discharge from hospital were taken to outpatient every month until three months in order to control growth and development indexes. Repeated measurement ANOVA was used to compare the growth indexes in two groups and Mann-Whitney U-test used to assess reflexes. According to the results, there was a significant difference between two groups in weight, length and head circumference indexes [p< 0.0001]. No differences were seen between two groups in moro, sucking, grasping reflexes. There was a clinically significant difference between two groups. On the basis of the results it could be claimed that discharge planning has a positive effect in continuity of care from hospital to home and preventive complication of prematurity and development of low birth weight infants

[Effect of exchange transfusion on ABR abnormality due to severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia]

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, as a very common problem in neonatal period, can lead to kernicterus which is a common cause of neuro-sensory hearing loss and an avoidable cause of deafness. The aim of this study was to detect toxic effect of severe hyperbilirubinemia on brain stem and auditory tract before and after exchange transfusion [ET] by Auditory Brainstem Responses [ABR]. ABR were measured in 12 full term newborns with severe hyperbilirubinemia [case] and 12 non-icteric full term neonates [control]. Total bilirubin concentration in jaundiced cases was >/=20mg/dl and direct bilirubin

[Prevalence of G6PD deficiency among primary school students in Amol]

G6PD [glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase] deficiency is the most common enzyme deficiency in human beings. Using fava beans, some drugs and oxidant agents cause life-threatening hemolysis in children and other ages. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency and its relation to age and family history. This cross sectional, descriptive and analytical study was performed on 732 persons. Students aged between 7-11 years old were randomly chosen by cluster sampling method. Data were analyzed by SPSS. For comparing enzyme deficiency between two sexes and the effect of family history, chi square test was used. From 732 students, 295 were male and 437 were female. 11.2% of males and 1.4% of females were G6PD deficient that this difference was considered significant [p<0.0001]. Children who have G6PD deficiency, history of G6PD deficiency among their family members was significantly more [p<0.0001]. Due to high prevalence of G6PD deficiency as a threatening factor for public health in north of Iran, it is suggested cord blood G6PD screening be considered at birth especially in male neonates and the quality of primary health care and public information be increased by teaching