Knowledge, practice, and barriers to kangaroo mother care as perceived by neonatal intensive care unit nurses in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

The World Health Organization has recommended kangaroo mother care (KMC) as a safe and cost-effective intervention for neonates. Limited research has been conducted to assess the knowledge, practice, and barriers to KMC in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Saudi Arabia.

Aim

To assess the knowledge, practice, and barriers to KMC in the NICU in Saudi Arabia as perceived by NICU nurses.

Methods

This study employed a cross-sectional correlational design. Data was collected from 97 NICU nurses in two hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, using an online survey. The survey covered four main domains: demographic and work-related, knowledge about KMC, practice of KMC, and barriers to KMC. Independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation were used to assess the relationship between study variables and KMC practice.

Results

Neonatal ICU nurses possessed a good knowledge level regarding KMC (0.74 ± 0.18). Most NICU nurses reported that KMC was practiced at their units (89%) with a mean of 1.6 times per shift. The mean number of KMC last shift was significantly higher with married NICU nurses (2.0, P ≤ 0.05) and NICU nurses who received training on KMC (1.8, P ≤ 0.05). Significant barriers to KMC were reluctance of the family, fear of accidental extubation and vascular access dislodgement, inadequate time provided to the family, and the family's discomfort with exposing their chest (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

Neonatal ICU nurses had adequate knowledge regarding KMC. The NICU nurses reported some barriers to KMC. Interventional programs are needed to overcome these barriers. More research is needed to gain more insights into KMC practice and the factors that influence it in Saudi Arabia.