A new transport incubator for primary care of low birth weight babies

A new portable, cheap and indigenous incubator made of polystyrene has been devised for delivery of primary health care services to the newborn babies in the community. Twenty six babies with a mean weight of 1726 g (range 1388-1981g) and gestational age of 35.3 weeks (range 34-38 wks) were continuously evaluated for 2 hours observation period, in naked and clothed conditions. Rectal, abdominal skin, foot, ambient air and nursery temperatures were recorded. The baseline core temperature of the babies was 36.58 (+/- 0.21) degrees C; after incubator care it was recorded s 36.80 (+/- 0.10) degrees C in naked infants. The baseline core temperature of the clothed babies was 36.63 (+/- 0.21) while it was 37.01 (+/- 0.18) after 2 hours of incubator care. An ambient air temperature of 33-34 degrees C in the incubator (thermoneutral temperature range for these babies being 31.0-33.8 degrees C) was achieved within 30-60 minutes of incubator stay (nursery temperature being 28 +/- 0.6 degrees C). No evidence of carbon dioxide narcosis, hypoxia, acidosis, or adverse thermoregulatory behavior was observed. One baby had hypoglycemia (blood sugar less than 35 mg/dl) and another had sweating. There is a scope for providing additional facilities like administration of oxygen, phototherapy, X-rays through the incubator without disturbing the baby.