Prevention of Neonatal Infections in Newborns Using Kangaroo Care Method: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of KC on the prevention of neonatal infections. Initial article screening by title and abstract was performed independently by paired reviewers utilizing the RAYYAN tool, with conflicts resolved by a senior researcher. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Review Manager and R version 4.4.1 software. A 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was established for calculating risk ratios (RR) to analyze outcomes. The I ² statistic and Cochran's Q test were applied to evaluate heterogeneity. A total of 6,894 patients were included, of which 3,572 (51.81%) were part of the KC group, and 3,322 (48.19%) were in the control group (conventional care). Compared with traditional methods, KC reduced the risk of neonatal infections up to 28 days after birth (RR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.59-0.87; p = 0.001; I ² = 44. The KC method significantly reduced the risk of neonatal sepsis, particularly in RCTs. While reductions in total hospital stay and mortality were observed, they were not statistically significant. Nonetheless, KC appears to be a safe, effective, and low-cost method for preventing infections during the neonatal period. · Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of mortality in the first 28 days of life.. · The KC method is largely used in preterms worldwide.. · The KC method has been shown to decrease sepsis mortality..