Abstract

The World Health Organisation (WHO, 1997) states that a newborn is considered normothermic if its body temperature falls between 36.5°C and 37.5°C. The three classifications are mild hypothermia (36.0–36.4°C), moderate hypothermia (32.0–35.9°C), and severe hypothermia (<32.0°C) based on a newborn’s core temperature being below 36.5°C as assessed by skin temperature in the axilla. Numerous risk factors that fall under the categories of environmental, physiological, behavioural, and socioeconomic variables make newborns susceptible to hypothermia in the early postnatal period. Babies born by caesarean section are more vulnerable to hypothermia. Three major procedures are used to treat hypothermia: prenatal and postpartum treatments in the delivery room, prenatal and postnatal therapies throughout the journey to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and post-NICU interventions. Although the creation of professional standards encourages safer and more precise management of neonatal hypothermia and its effects, educated and qualified health workers reduce the risk of hypothermia in neonates.

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