Characterization of Complementary Feeding of Preterm Infants: Kangaroo Care Method Versus Conventional Care

In Brazil, the Kangaroo Care Method (KCM) is a public policy that proposes systematic and humanized care for preterm low birth weight infants (LBWI), and one of its pillars is breastfeeding promotion. Therefore, this study aims to compare complementary feeding of LBWI in terms of age of introduction and the type of food offered according to the type of care received-KCM or Conventional Care (CC). A prospective cohort study was conducted from September 2019 to August 2021 at a Brazilian university hospital. A total of 65 LBWI born at the institution weighing 1800 g or less were included. Data were collected during the first week of hospitalization and at 4 and 6 months of corrected age. The median age at food introduction was estimated by survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to compare the median age at the time of food introduction according to the type of care. Longer exclusive breastfeeding (KCM = 30 days; CC = 0.001, p = 0.002) and continued breastfeeding were observed in KCM preterm infants (KCM = 172 days; CC = 0.001, p = 0.002). The median age at introduction of infant formula (KCM = 38 days; CC = 35 days), water (KCM = 65 days; CC = 46 days), salted porridge (KCM = 139 days; CC = 136 days) and fruits (KCM = 134 days; CC = 136 days) was similar between both types of care received. No ultra-processed foods were consumed. In conclusion, despite encouraging exclusive and continuous breastfeeding, there was no significant difference in the time of introduction of foods according to the type of care received.