ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of community-based interventions on the Neonatal Health Index in one district of Tehran-Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community and healthcare center-based study was carried out from January 2011 through September 2014. The population of the study included newborns from mothers residing in the 4(th) district of Tehran, Iran. Demographic data of mothers and infants were recorded in questionnaires before and after intervention. Interventions were implemented in hospitals, participants' homes, and health centers. The primary outcomes were comparison of mean birth weight, weight gain during the first 3-7 days, first week visit rate, hospitalization rate between the before and after intervention groups. RESULTS: The populations in the before and after intervention groups were 274 and 250, respectively. A significant difference was seen between the gestational ages (P value = 0.007) of the two groups. Mean birth height in the first group was 50.35 ± 3.48 and in the second group was 55 ± 5.32 cm (P value = 0.04). Neonatal complications in the second group were 6.9% lower than in the first group (P value = 0.048). In the first group 41 neonates (15%) were hospitalized in the NICU while in the second group 12 cases (4.8%) were hospitalized (P value = 0.018). Seven cases (2.6%) in the first group and one case (0.4%) in the second group were resuscitated (P value = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The results of implementing community-based newborn care strategies witnessed at the first week postnatal visit included improvements inneonatal gestational growth, management of neonates with potentially serious illnesses, diagnosis of warning signs and neonatal care practices.
ABSTRACT
To determine the association between polymorphism of UGT1A1 gene and idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia in Iranian neonates. Fifty neonates with idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia and Serum total bilirubin (STB) more that 15mg/dl and 50 neonates with idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia and Serum total bilirubin (STB) less than 15mg/dl enrolled in this study. Thymine-adenine (TA) repeats in the promoter region of UGT1A1 gene investigated by means of polymerase- chain reaction (PCR) DNA sequencing. Demographic characteristics did not differ significantly between groups while STB was higher in case group (17.5±1.9 vs. 10.4±1.8, p value<0.001). Among one hundred neonates evaluated in this study, TA6/6, TA6/7 and TA7/7 genotypes found in 52%, 42% and 6%, totally. TA6/7 and TA7/7 genotypes observed in case group more than the control group (P<0.001). STB levels were significantly higher in cases with TA6/7 and TA7/7 genotype pattern (P<0.001). Heterozygous and variant homozygous genotypes of the promoter region of UGT1A1 gene in healthy Iranian neonates with idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia should be considered.
