Community based kangaroo mother care for low birth weight babies: A pilot study
Reeta Rasaily1, K K Ganguly1, M Roy1
1Central Technical Coordinating Unit, Division of Reproductive Biology & Maternal Health & Child Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.
The Indian Journal of Medical Research
|June 3, 2017
Summary
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an acceptable and feasible method for low birth weight infants in community settings. Health education improved KMC initiation and practice among mothers and families.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Public health interventions
- Maternal and child health
Background:
- Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is recommended for low birth weight infants.
- Limited evidence exists on home-initiated KMC in India.
- This study assessed KMC acceptability in diverse community settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the acceptability of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) initiated at home.
- To assess KMC feasibility in rural, urban, and tribal community settings.
- To identify factors influencing KMC practice duration.
Main Methods:
- A community-based pilot study conducted in Odisha, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
- Health workers provided antenatal and postnatal information, education, and communication (IEC) on KMC.
- Acceptability assessed through proportion of women initiating and continuing KMC, duration, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews.
Main Results:
- KMC was provided to 101 infants (57.4% preterm, birth weight 1500-2000g).
- 80.2% mothers received KMC health education; 55.4% initiated KMC within 72 hours.
- KMC practiced for an average of 5 hours/day; acceptable to mothers and families, with barriers including household work and hot weather.
Conclusions:
- Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is feasible using existing infrastructure.
- KMC is an acceptable method for most mothers of low birth weight infants in community settings.
- Targeted health education can improve KMC initiation and practice.
