Hypothermia in neonates born by caesarean section at a tertiary hospital in South Africa.

Introduction: neonatal hypothermia has previously been noted in a large proportion of neonates born through Caesarean section at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBAH), yet no study in South Africa specifically explores the extent and severity of the threat of hypothermia to this population of neonates.

Objectives: to describe the proportion and severity of neonatal hypothermia in infants born Caesarean section at CHBAH as well as to document and describe possible contributing factors to neonatal hypothermia in this population.

Methods: A neonatal unit's database records were reviewed for demographic information of patients and their mothers, clinical characteristics, body temperature and outcomes.