Effects of Baby Massage in Reducing Body Temperature after Combined Diptheri Pertussis Tetanus/Hepatitis B Immunization

Abstract

Background: Side effects that may often occur after immunization include fever in infants after to combined Diptheri Pertusis Tetanus/Hepatitis B (DPT/HB) vaccine. Fever in infants or toddlers is a case that cannot be ignored because it can interfere with the comfort and development of infants and toddlers.
 Objectives: This research aims to analyze the effects of baby massage in lowering body temperature among babies given combined DPT/HB immunization.
 Material and Methods: It is a quasi-experiment using one intervention group. The population and sample are babies aged 2-5 months visiting the Work Area of Puskesmas Lombok Barat in Indonesia that meet inclusion criteria. Baby massage was administered in the morning and in the afternoon for 5 days, with the first 2 days prior to combined DPT/HB immunization 1, the second 1 day at the time of immunization, and the last 2 days after immunization. The same treatment was also carried out for combined DPT/HB immunization 2. Prior and after massage, baby temperatures were measured at the axila using a digital thermometer, with the results put in an observation sheet (graph). Body temperature measurement was observed for 2 months. Data gathered were then tested using non-parametric test (Wilcoxon).
 Results: there is reduction in body temperature among babies given combined DPT/HB immunization 1 and combined DPT/HB immunization 2. Babies given combined DPT/HB immunization 1 had average body temperature of 0,2±0.18 °C in the morning and 0,21±0.25 °C in the afternoon. Meanwhile, babies given combined DPT/HB immunization 2 had average body temperature of 0,26±0.19 °C in the morning and 0,2±0.23 °C in the afternoon. Effect of massage in reducing body temperature among babies given combined DPT/HB immunization 1 is at (p<0.005) and at (p<0.005) for combined DPT/HB immunization 2.
 Conclusion: massage can be performed before or after babies are immunized with combined DPT/HB to lower their body temperature.