Enhancing Kangaroo Mother Care Uptake Through Implementation of an Education Protocol

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) uptake is low despite KMC being an evidence based tool to decrease neonatal mortality. It is important that local strategies be developed to enhance KMC usage. This study aimed to assess the effect of implementing an education protocol on the usage of KMC in the NICU and at home after discharge.

Preterm mother-infant dyads admitted to the NICU were enrolled prospectively. In initial 3 mo, baseline data on KMC usage in the unit and at home after discharge was collected. In the next three months, a KMC education protocol consisting of one-to-one counseling, education and sensitization of the mother and family members regarding benefits and procedure of KMC and focussed group discussions was implemented such that it became a unit work protocol. In the next 3 mo, data on KMC usage in the unit and at home after discharge was again collected and compared with the baseline data.

Implementation of the education protocol resulted in earlier initiation of KMC (2.49 ± 0.67 vs. 4.65 ± 0.99 d, p < 0.05); increased duration of KMC (8 h/d vs. 3 h/d, p < 0.05); a higher proportion of eligible preterms receiving KMC during hospital stay (100% vs. 75%, p < 0.05) and at home (87% vs. 28%, p < 0.05) and KMC being provided more often by other family members (27.1% vs. 5.7%, p < 0.05).

Implementation of a KMC education protocol resulted in improved KMC usage in the unit and at home 4 wk after discharge.