<b>Noise levels at the Intermediary Neonatal care unit of a universitary hospital</b> - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v7i4.6617

Abstract

Excessive noise at neonatal care units can compromise the health of neonates, parents and health care providers. Aim: to determine the levels of environment noise at the intermediary neonatal care unit of a university hospital in Ribeirão Preto-SP. This is a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory and observational study. The environment noise was dimensoned at the nursing ward of minimal handling in the intermediary neonatal care unit of the university hospital in Ribeirão Preto-SP for two consecutive weeks. In the first week, the environment noise levels were measured every day for 12 hours, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In the second, it was measured every night for 12 hours, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. A Quest-400 dosimeter was used to measure SPL, placed in the center of the ward and hung from the roof at 70 cm. The mean sound level at the unit was 60.8dBA. A variability of 20.8dBA (from 51.8 to 72.6dBA) was found for Leq, 23.6dBA (90.1 to 113.7dBA) for Lpeak, 42.8dBA (52.1 to 90.9dBA) for Lmax and 1.4dBA (50.7 to 52.1dBA) for Lmin.. Sound pressure levels were intense across all shifts and days of the data collection period. It went beyond recommendations and technical standards for adequate noise levels at neonatal units.