Experience of Providing Kangaroo Mother Care at a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Hypothermia is a major problem in newborns particularly among low birth weight (LBW) babies and it is one of the major cause of mortality and morbidity among LBW babies. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a simple method of maintaining temperature by keeping the LBW babies normothermic and indicated especially for LBW babies without using costly equipment. Dr Edgar Rey Sanabria introduced Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in Bogotá, Colombia in 1978 as an alternative to incubators for LBW infants to keep small babies warm. WHO defines KMC with its four components: early, continuous, and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the newborns and mother; exclusive breastfeeding; early discharge from the health facility and close follow-up at home. Objective: To share the experience of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (KMCTH) Materials and Methods: At neonatal unit, 5 bedded an air-conditioned room were allocated as the KMC room and the temperature of this room was maintained at 28 0C. Before starting KMC, orientation on KMC, its procedures and benefits were explained to the mother or caregivers. Premature /LBW babies were kept over the mother’s chest with the help of cotton-made slings (Nyano Angalo wrap). The study period was of a one-year duration (Nov 2018- October 2019) . Results: 35 babies born in KMCTH received KMC during 12 months period (Nov 2018- October 2019) using Nyano Angalo wrap. The mean birth weight of babies kept on KMC was 1340 gms and mean gestational age was 33.6 wks. Each baby received KMC for 14.5 hrs average duration. Conclusion: Kangaroo mother care is a simple, feasible and non expensive intervention. It enhances breast feeding and bonding between the mother and the newborn babies. Its extensive use will help in the reduction of present high neonatal mortality, particularly among LBWs due to hypothermia.