Abstract

Betamethasone is prescribed for accelerating fetal lung maturation in at risk pregnancies for preterm delivery. It is used to reduce the incidence of fetal distress syndrome, prevention of death from intracranial hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and also to increase life expectancy.The aim of this study was to compare the effect of one versus double doses of Betamethasone on the outcomes of preterm neonates. In this clinical trial quasi-experimental study total of 100 women were selected and divided into two intervention and control groups. For intervention group a single dose of 12 mg Betamethasone and in control group double doses of 12 mg Betamethasone was injected intramuscularly with an interval of 24 hours. Data were entered into "SPSS". Chi-square and Mann Whitney U tests were used. Kolmograph-Smirnov test showed that data distribution was not normal. The results showed that mean and standard deviations of gestational age of the study population were 31.34 ± 2.44 weeks with a minimum of 24 and maximum of 35 weeks. Mean and Standard Deviations of women were 29.75 ± 7.01 years with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 48 years. There were 48 male and 55 female neonates. There was no significantly different between the two groups in terms of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (p=0.689), fetal death (p=0.525), or the need for hospitalization (p=0.394). There were no significantly different on the neonate outcomes between two groups according to single or double doses of Betamethasone.