Kangaroo mother care: a basic necessity or just an adjunct

Introduction- Preterm birth is a significant public health problem associated with neonatal mortality and short and long term disability in later life. Majority of preterm babies delivered in Bihar who need admission come to NICU, PMCH. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is administered in selective patients, by evaluating the quality and coverage of this technique we can get an idea of utility of KMC in the population we serve and administer this to.
Aims & Objectives -To determine survival rate in preterm/LBW neonates receiving KMC and not any significant difference in weight gain and difference in duration of hospital stay in patients given KMC and those not.
Materials & Methods- A retrospective analytical hospital based study from March 2021- March 2022 in 204 neonates. The Inclusion criteria were as follows 1) Newborn less than 2500 grams 2) Who were found to be hemodynamically stable after initial treatment. Exclusion criteria were as follows 1)weight more than 2500gms 2)those neonates who are found to be hemodynamically unstable ,with seizure, with severe respiratory distress 3)any known or suspected chromosomal abnormalities 4)babies with cyanotic congenital heart disease.
Results- Weight gain in average -At start of KMC was 1 kg at 1 week was 1.2 kg at discharge was 1.6 kg .Survival rate was 82% in the group receiving KMC and for other group was below 50%. In those not given KMC, we found delayed weight gain, in fact weight loss during hospital stay, feeding difficulties and reaching discharge criteria at an average of 45 days of admissions.
Conclusion- KMC is a necessity and should be used judiciously in neonates who need it.