Prevalence of wounds in hospitalised neonates: a systematic review

Introduction: The integrity of the newborn's skin is essential for its well-being and survival, as it acts as a protective barrier, promotes thermoregulation, and prevents the absorption of chemical agents. Objective: To determine the prevalence of wounds in neonates admitted to the hospital. Methods: A systematic prevalence review with meta-analysis was carried out following the method proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The search was carried out in nine databases and included studies in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish, with no limit on the date of publication. The selection, critical evaluation, and extraction of data were carried out by two independent reviewers. Binary random-effect meta-analyses of prevalence were carried out using the inverse variance method with Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. Results: The search strategy identified 1964 records, of which only 26 articles formed part of the review corpus. The binary meta-analysis of prevalence was carried out with 22 studies and included a sample of 3768 neonates. The combined prevalence of injuries was 39% (95% CI= 28-50%; p<0.01). The studies included in this review show the need for interventions aimed at the prevention and management of skin lesions in newborns admitted to the hospital. Conclusion: There is a significant prevalence of skin lesions in hospitalized newborns. It is essential to implement interventions within the framework of risk assessment and evidence-based practices to ensure the integrity of the neonate's skin.