Maternal Knowledge of Kangaroo Care: Level of Practice in Health Facilities in Calabar Metropolis

Abstract

This study is aimed to assess the level of knowledge and identify the level of practice of Kangaroo care among mothers with preterm and low birth weight babies in health facilities in Calabar Metropolis. The study was a quantitative, descriptive survey design study. Four objectives and four corresponding research questions guided the study. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 24 was used to analyse the data. Demographic data revealed that 30.5% of the respondents were between 18 – 30years, 53.4% were between 31 – 40years, 10% were between 41 – 50years while 6.1% were between 50years and above, 16% had no formal education, 10.8% had primary school education, 20% had secondary school education while 53.2% had tertiary education. The result of the study revealed that 72.5% of the total respondents has little or no knowledge of Kangaroo mother care while only 27.5% has knowledge of Kangaroo mother care, 24.1% of the respondents had practiced Kangaroo mother care while 75.9% had not practiced Kangaroo mother care, lack of assistance from husband and family member in home chores is part of the factors that limited the practice of Kangaroo mother care among women with preterm and low birth weight babies in health facilities and that assistance from husband and family member in home chores enabled them practice Kangaroo mother care. The study concludes that the level of knowledge and practice is low among women in health facilities in Calabar Metropolis. Therefore, the study recommends that training and education about Kangaroo Mother Care practice should be carried out on a regular basis.