Skin injuries in newborns hospitalized in neonatal intensive care: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the skin injuries of hospitalized newborns and identify factors related to the number of lesions.

METHOD: This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out over a period of one year in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the west of Paraná. The study included 74 newborns with a score ≥5 on the Newborn Skin Condition Scale. Data analysis by chi-square and Pearson's test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The frequency was 25.4%, 59.4% had more than one lesion, mainly dermatitis and pressure injury. Birth characteristics were not related to the number of lesions. Not using antibiotics and parenteral nutrition, hemoglobin >11g/dl, phototherapy, pain score <4 and hospitalization >30 days were related to the number of lesions. The presence of two injuries led to longer healing time and three to longer hospitalization. A higher score on the Skin Condition Scale was related to healing time and late start of the diet.

CONCLUSION

Skin injuries were found to be infrequent among newborns, but there is still a need to improve practices to prevent and maintain skin integrity.