The characterization of noise levels in a neonatal intensive care unit and the implications for noise management

The effects of noise are particularly harmful for the newborns, and therefore this study assesses and characterizes noise levels in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a medium-size hospital in the city of Huelva with the aim of optimizing the management and quality of care for newborns. The eq...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Iranian journal of environmental health science & engineering 2014-07, Vol.12, p.1-1
Main Authors: tes-Garrido, Juan Carlos, Velez-Pereira, Andres Mauricio, Gazquez, Manuel, Hidalgo-Hidalgo, Montserrat, Bolivar, Juan Pedro
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The effects of noise are particularly harmful for the newborns, and therefore this study assesses and characterizes noise levels in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a medium-size hospital in the city of Huelva with the aim of optimizing the management and quality of care for newborns. The equivalent continuous sound level was recorded as A-weighting curves using Type I sound level meters with levels measured during 100 milliseconds along to 15-day period in the both critical and intermediate care units from a medium-size hospital. These devices were attached to a central beam 80 cm below the ceiling and into one of the incubators. The results show that the values recommended by international bodies and agencies (AAP, WHO) are surpassed by a large margin, thus making it crucial that certain norms are followed in order to reduce the noise level in the NICU, by means of physical alterations to the layout, and raising awareness of health care personnel and visitors in order to encourage noise prevention in the daily care work and conversation.
ISSN:1735-1979