Reduction in Early Neonatal Mortality by Implementing Kangaroo Mother Care in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi, Sindh

Reduction in Neonatal Mortality through Kangaroo Mother Care

Abstract

Sub-optimal weight, as a result of prematurity or restricted growth affects 15% newborns globally, and eventually contributes in up to 70% of neonatal deaths. In November 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recommended Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for newborns with a birth weight of less than 2 kg. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on early neonatal death rate among preterm and low-birth-weight infants. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional analysis was carried out over the period of six months, from July 2021 to January 2022. All the patients visiting Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi, Sindh, who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Informed consent was taken after explaining the procedures, potential risks, and anticipated benefits of the study. The three key elements of Kangaroo Mother Care were explained which included direct skin contact, breastmilk feeding exclusively, and expedited hospital discharge, with a demonstration of the proper technique for keeping infants on the mother’s chest, and using a sheet for wrapping around the baby and the mother. For research purposes, all data were recorded in a proforma and used electronically. Results: Mean ± SD of age of mother was 26.99±4.3 years. In the distribution of the gender of the baby, 121 (57.6%) were male, while 89 (42.4%) were female. Kangaroo-mother care in reducing early neonatal fatalities was noted as effective in 60 (28.6%) participants. Conclusions: In conclusion, Kangaroo Mother Care was successful in lowering early neonatal fatalities.