Abstract
Introduction
Low birth weight (LBW) is a major health problem and a significant contributor to neonatal deaths in both industrialized and developing nations.1 According to WHO every year about 20 million LBW baby born, 96% of them are in developing countries. LBW is common problem in our country with an incidence of 30-40% (term small for gestational age 20-30% and preterm 10-20%).2
The period of intrauterine growth and development is one of the most vulnerable periods in the human life cycle3. Any deficiency occurring during this period leads to poor growth and development of the newborn. Newborn infants require efficient and cost effective care to compensate for possible shortage of intrauterine development.4
Massage is one of the oldest therapeutic techniques in the world which has been used as a routine part of infant care in many cultures.5 Infant massage could potentially benefit both physiological and psychological health of the baby.6 One of the important effects of massage is promotion of optimal infant growth and development.6 The mechanism of massage therapy affecting the weight gain is not yet known. Theories proposed to explain the positive effects of massage on weight gain in preterm and full term infants include hormone growth, vagal tone and gastric motility, in addition to improved circulation of blood and lymph fluids; however, need for further research has been suggested to confirm these mechanisms.7 Coconut oil is composed entirely of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which are a source of highly efficient cellular food. When coconut oil is applied topically, the cells absorb the MCFAs converting them into energy thus promoting weight gain8 and so can be used for nutritional purpose and faster weight gain in LBW infants.9
Effects of massaging on the growth of low birth weight infants with or without oils remain unresolved. Oil can act as heat and nutrition source, but the effect of oil individually upon the growth of low birth weight infants is not yet clear.10 Using oil during massaging makes the massage frictionless, the skin soft causing reduction in the skin dryness.11
The present study thus aims to explore if coconut oil massaging can have a positive impact on the weight gain status of low birth weight infants.
References
- Deshpande Jayantl D., Phalke2 D.B., Bangal3 V. B., Peeyuusha4 D., Sushen4B. (2011): Maternal risk factors for low birth weight neonates: a hospital based case-control study in rural area of western Maharashtra. National Journal of Community Medicine; 2(3): Oct-Dec 2011; 2229 6816.
- Maharban S. Disorders of weight and gestation. In: Maharban S, editor. Care of the newborn. 6th ed. Sagar publications; New Delhi: 2004.p. 219.
- Teklehaimanot N, Hailu T. &Assefa H. (2014): Prevalence and factors associated with low birth weight in Axum and LaelayMaichew districts, North Ethiopia: A comparative cross sectional study. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 2014; 3(6): 560-566.
- Vickers A., Ohlsson A., Lacy -weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2009), 2, 34.
- Bond, C. (2002) Positive Touch and Massage in the Neonatal Unit: A British Approach. Seminars in Neonatology, 7, 477-486.
- Underdown A, Barlow J, Chung V and Stewart-Brown S. Massage Intervention for Promoting Mental and Physical Health in Infants Aged under Six Months. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2006.
- Lee, H.-K.The Effects of Infant Massage on Weight, Height, and Mother-Infant Interaction. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2006, 36, 1331-1339.
- Fife B. Coconut Cures: Preventing and Treating Common Health Problems with Coconut. Piccadilly Books, Ltd.; 2005.
- Solanki K, Matnani M, Kale M, Joshi K, et al. Transcutaneous absorption of topically massaged oil in neonates. Indian Pediatrics. 2005; 42(10):998-1005.
- Arora J, Kumar A, Ramji S. Effect of oil massage on growth and neurobehavior in very low birth weight preterm neonates. Indian Pediatrics. 2005;42:1092–100. [PubMed]
- Alison E. Translation of aromatherapy and massage for mother and child. Tehran: Sahar Gostar Publications; 2003.
- Mathai S, Fernandez A, Mondkar J, Kanbur W. Effects of tactile-kinesthetic stimulation in preterms: A controlled trial. Indian Pediatr 2001; 38: 1091-1098.
- Kulkarni A, Kaushik JS, Gupta P, Sharma H, Agrawal RK. Massage and touch therapy in neonates: the current evidence. Indian Pediatr. 2010;47:771–776. [PubMed].
- Kuppuswamy B. 1976 Manual of Socio-economic status scale (urban). Manasagar. 32, Netaji Subhash Marg, Delhi.
- Omari TI, Rudolph CD. Gastrointestinal Motility. In: Polio RA and Fox WW (Eds). Fatal and Neonatal Physiology. 2ndedn. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co 1998; p. 1125-38.
- Saeedi R, Gholami M, DinparvarSh, Kabirian M. Short communication: transcutaneous feeding: the effect of massage with coconut oil on weight gaining in preterm newborns. Iran Red Crescent Med J 2011; 13: 666-669.
- Vickers A, Ohlsson A, Lacy JB, Horsley A. Massage for promoting growth and development of preterm and/or low birth-weight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;2:CD000390. [PubMed].
- Agarwal KN, Gupta A, Pushkarna R, et al. Effects of massage and use of oil on growth, blood flow and sleep pattern in infants. Indian J Med Res 2000;112:212-7.
- Sankaranarayanan K, Mondkar JA, Chauhan MM, Mascarenhas BM, Mainkar AR, Salvi RY. Oil massage in neonates: An open randomized controlled study of coconut versus mineral oil. Indian Pediatr. 2005;42:877–84. [PubMed]
- Soriano CR, Martinez FE, Jorge SM. Cutaneous application of vegetable oil as a coadjutant in the nutritional management of preterm infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2000; 31: 387-390.
- Solkoff N, Matuszak D. Tactile stimulation and behavioral development among low birth weight infants. Child Psychiat Hum Dev 1973; 6: 33-37.
- Smriti Arora, DishaRavindran, Shilpi Sarkar. Effect of Coconut Oil Massage on Weight and Neurobehavioral Response in LBW Babies. International Journal of Pediatric Nursing 2015. Vol 1, issue 2, page 1-3.
- Fernandez A, Patankar S, Chawla C, Taskar T, Prabhu SV. Oil application in preterm babies - A source of warmth and nutrition. Indian Pediatr 1987; 24: 1111-1116.
- Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Freedman J. Stimulation programs for preterm infants. Social Policy Report. 2004;18:1–19.
- Massaro AN, Hammad TA, Jazzo B, Aly H. Massage with kinesthetic stimulation improves weight gain in preterm infants. J Perinatol 2009; 29: 352-357.
- Mendes EW, Procianoy RS. Massage therapy reduces hospital stay and occurrence of late-onset sepsis in very preterm neonates. J Perinatol 2008;28:815-20.
- Adams-Chapman I, Hansen NI, Shankaran S, et al. TenYear Review of Major Birth Defects in VLBW Infants. Pediatrics 2013;132(1):49-61.
Corresponding Author
Dr Adil A. Raheman Akbani
MBBS (Intern), RCSM Government Medical College, Kolhapur
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i2.44
