Resumen de Urinary density measurement and analysis methods in neonatal unit care

Maria Vera Lúcia Moreira Leitao Cardoso, Gabrielle Gama Teixeira Lima, Leiliane Martins Farias

• The objective was to assess urine collection methods through cotton in contact with genitalia and urinary collector to measure urinary density in newborns. This is a quantitative intervention study carried out in a neonatal unit of Fortaleza-CE, Brazil, in 2010. The sample consisted of 61 newborns randomly chosen to compose the study group. Most neonates were full term (31/50.8%) males (33/54%). Data on urinary density measurement through the methods of cotton and collector presented statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The analysis of interquartile ranges between subgroups resulted in statistical differences between urinary collector/reagent strip (1005) and cotton/reagent strip (1010), however there was no difference between urinary collector/ refractometer (1008) and cotton/ refractometer. Therefore, further research should be conducted with larger sampling using methods investigated in this study and whenever possible, comparing urine density values to laboratory tests.

  DOI:https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2013000400003