A prospective study on feasibility, acceptability and outcome of kangaroo mother care in low birth weight babies

Background: Low Birth Weight (LBW) continues as an important social health problem. About 20 million LBW babies are born each year worldwide. In India 8 million (40%) LBW babies are born each year. LBW preterm babies are associated with high neonatal/infant mortality and morbidity. Kangaroo Mother Care is an alternative approach for providing thermal care and improving survival of LBW infants which is effective and affordable. The present study was undertaken to study feasibility, acceptability and outcome of KMC in LBW babies. Aims and Objectives: To study feasibility, acceptability and outcome of KMC in LBW babies with an objective to determine the effect of kangaroo mother care on vital parameters like temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate and oxygen saturation; and to denote the establishment of breastfeeding and weight gain in LBW babies and their duration of hospital stay. Methodology: A hospital based prospective observational study conducted over a period of one year from September 2017 to August 2018, at SNCU, SVRRGGH, Tirupati. The study subjects are 210 babies. Results: In the present study, it was observed that there was a significant increase in axillary temperature, decrease in respiratory rate, decrease in heart rate and increase in oxygen saturation observed after KMC which were physiologically favorable. Higher proportion of neonates achieved transition from expressed breast milk consumption to direct breastfeeding during hospital stay. The study showed significant mean weight gain of 20.2 g/day during hospital KMC. Neonates were discharged early as they met our discharge criteria with mean age being 14.3 days. The maternal acceptance of KMC was good. All the mothers providing KMC were satisfied with the training and care. During follow up, it was observed that neonates were all exclusively breastfed; and the velocity of weight gain was satisfactory (153.6 g/week). The response of the family and/or the father was supportive and encouraging. Conclusion: The present study concluded that practice of KMC promotes breastfeeding, shorten hospital stay without compromising survival, growth and development; and would humanize the practice of neonatology. It is superior alternative to conventional method of care in institutions with limited resources. It is definitely feasible, acceptable to mothers at tertiary care hospital and can be continued at home in the Indian setup.