https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6918-1204
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Abstract
Purpose
Kangaroo care is a complementary humanistic intervention based on a family-centered care model. This study investigated the effects of a locally contextualized, structured kangaroo care education program on weight gain, breastfeeding rate and length of hospitalization for premature infants.
Patients and Methods
This longitudinal quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-intervention design involved 96 infants born between 28 and 37 weeks of gestation for three months, and was carried out at a neonatal intensive care unit in Malaysia. The experimental group received a structured education program and careful monitoring of their kangaroo care practices, while the control group received routine care without a structured education program. The institutional review board approved the study design and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04926402).
Results
The kangaroo care hours performed by mothers at baseline in the experimental and control group was 4.12 and 0.55 hours per week, respectively. At three months post-discharge, the experimental group had significantly higher weight gain, higher breastfeeding rates and shorter lengths of hospitalization than the control group.
Conclusion
A locally contextualized and structured kangaroo care education program is effective in the performance of kangaroo care. One hour per day of kangaroo care is positively associated with an extended period of breastfeeding, improved weight gain and shorter hospitalization of premature infants.
Institutional Review Board Statement
The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Review Board University Malaya Medical Centre Medical Research Ethics Committee (UMMC MRECID no. 201765-5310), registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04926402).
Informed Consent Statement
Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.
Acknowledgments
The authors are incredibly grateful to the mothers and babies involved in this study. We also thank our University Malaya Medical Centre Malaysia colleagues who have provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted this study.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.