Implementing facility-based kangaroo mother care services: lessons from a multi-country study in Africa

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care practices
• Public health initiatives
• Maternal and child health

Background:

• Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) programs have been initiated in several countries.
• This study systematically evaluated the implementation of facility-based KMC services in Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current status of facility-based Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) implementation in four African countries.
• To identify factors influencing the successful scaling up of KMC services.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, mixed-method research design was employed.
• Data collection involved stakeholder interviews and assessments of 39 healthcare facilities using a standardized tool and observations.
• Facilities were scored based on six stages of implementation progress.

Main Results:

• Ninety-five percent of assessed health facilities demonstrated some Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) practice.
• Facilities with longer KMC history, centers of excellence, or strong leadership showed better implementation.
• Implementation quality varied, with key factors including training, supervision, quality improvement integration, continuity of care, leadership support, and client-centered care.

Conclusions:

• Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) should be integrated into all routine maternal and newborn care services.
• Early engagement of health ministries and partners is crucial for resource mobilization and scaling up KMC.
• Monitoring mechanisms for KMC services should be integrated into existing health management information systems.