Effects of emollient therapy with sunflower seed oil on neonatal growth and morbidity in Uttar Pradesh, India: a cluster-randomized, open-label, controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Newborn oil massage is a widespread practice. Vigorous massage with potentially harmful products and forced removal of vernix may disrupt skin barrier integrity. Hospitalized, very-preterm infants treated with sunflower seed oil (SSO) have demonstrated improved growth but community-based data on growth and health outcomes are lacking.

Objectives

We aimed to test whether SSO therapy enhances neonatal growth and reduces morbidity at the population level.

Methods

We conducted an open-label, controlled trial in rural Uttar Pradesh, India, randomly allocating 276 village clusters equally to comparison (usual care) and intervention comprised of promotion of improved massage practices exclusively with SSO, using intention-to-treat and per-protocol mixed-effects re

SUBMITTER: Kumar V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8970981 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature