الفهرس 
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Abstract
Most of the admitted infants in Neonatal intensive care units are premature infants, so problems of high risk infants are mostly associated with these infants. Moreover, premature infants often have poor muscular tonicity and their neck, thoracic area and most of their limbs are in extension position influencing the development of their neuro-psychomotor skills.
Prone position and infant massage has been advised for numerous decades to have a good effect on preterm and low birth weight newborns. Although previous studies suggested various positions for the infants, prone position is suggested to significantly reduce stress level in premature newborns, assessed by means of salivary cortisol measurement, however prone position should be administrated just in hospital and under supervision of health care workers.
Among other methods that can reduce the stress level and improve cardiopulmonary function is massage, and refers to regular movements on skin to stimulate the infants. In fact, massage is a kind of methodological touch to stimulate the infant. Numerous studies have reported its positive effects. Massaging the infant can help reduction of the imposed stress and affect preterm and low weight infants’ growth and development.
It seems that these methods can be applicable among the preterm neonates to improve their comfort and health. Both of them are easy and cost effective for health care workers.
The aim of the work is evaluation of the effectiveness of neonatal prone position and massage therapy on Heart Rate (HR) and blood oxygen saturation level (SPO2) in preterm neonates admitted to NICUs to improve their health using these available types of therapy.
Patients and methods: It is a single-center, randomized controlled three-group clinical trial. After enrollment, the (240) cases were sequentially arranged and plotted on the random number tables to determine to which group they were assigned. the three groups were: group A: (80) infants with prone position, group B: (80) infants with massage therapy (as intervention groups) and group C: (80) infants as a control group (with no intervention) .
Infants of the first group (group A) were laid in prone position for one hour. During this time, their heart rate and oxygen saturation changes were recorded by a pulse oximetry device every 15 minutes.
In massage (group B), the infant were massaged through of superficial stroking method with use of Tiffany field conventional technique. Infants underwent massage for 15 min so that in the first 5 min, the infant was laid in prone position and massaged by fingers from head to toe through superficial stroking method. In the second 5 min, the infant was laid in supine position and underwent arms and legs extension and flexion. In the last 5 min, the infant was laid in prone position again and underwent massage. Then, it underwent pulse oximetry in no specific position for one hour.
In control group (group C), the infant was recorded by pulse oximetry for one hour with no intervention.