Kangaroo Mother Care

Effects of the Kangaroo Mother Care Method in Low Birth Weight Newborns

Significance

A preterm infant is defined as a baby born alive before 37 weeks of the pregnancy is completed. Low birth weight is defined as an infant weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces at birth. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies. Almost 1 million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth. Globally, prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five (5). In almost all countries with reliable data, preterm birth rates are increasing (WHO, 2003).

Many of these infants will suffer from disabilities that will affect them

for a lifetime. The types of disabilities include learning, visual, and hearing issues. Survival rate for preterm babies around the world are low. In a low income setting, half of the babies that are defined as preterm, die due to lack of cost-effective care. These types of care would include breastfeeding, warmth, and basic care for infections. One effective and low cost method that helps improve the stability of the infant is known as the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method. The KMC is an effective way to provide warmth, safety, protection from infection, and enhance breastfeeding. The KMC method is a strong, emotional, and bonding experience for the mother and baby. The KMC method consists of skin to skin contact of mother and baby for a continuous time.
Background
The Kangaroo Mother Care Method is continuously being researched. Research has showed that this method is both beneficial to the mother and baby. It does not definitely show improved survival rates but it shows that is does not reduce it. In regards to morbidity, there is no strong evidence that KMC is a beneficial component. On the other hand, it has no evidence of producing harm. KMC seems to be more helpful in poor environmental settings and low income countries. These types of areas are not well equipped and the hospitals have little medical resources. The KMC has had a positive impact on these infants survival where mortality is high. KMC has shown positive evidence on breastfeeding in settings where it may be less common to have the ability for skin to skin contact. Many times, preterm infants are quickly placed in incubators and then bottle feed. They do not get the chance to be close to their mother during feedings. Using skin to skin contact during breastfeeding not only helps with the technique of having the baby latch on to the nipple but it also starts that emotional deep connection with mother and baby.
Reduced risk of hypothermia has been associated with skin to skin contact. Prolonged skin to skin contact between mother, father and the baby has helped improve the baby’s heart rate, respiratory rate, less bradycardia and improved oxygenation. Mothers and fathers have both expressed that KMC has helped their stress level decrease during this life changing experience. Once the stress level of mother or father decreases, the baby’s stress level is also shown to decrease. Practicing in KMC has helped with the anxiety, the nerves of breastfeeding, and the handling of a new baby. This is especially true for first time mothers and fathers.
PICO Question
My PICO question is developed as a foreground question.

A foreground questions seeks answers and evidence to a specific type of patient and or specific clinical intervention or therapy. PICO stands for (P)roblem/population, (I)ntervention, (C)omparison, and (O)utcome. My PICO question is “In low birth weight infants, does Kangaroo Mother Care affect the stabilization and development of the infant?” My population I chose to study is low birth weight infants also known as preemie infants. My intervention is the uses of the Kangaroo Mother Care which is known as a method of skin to skin contact. I did not choose to have a compassion aspect in this question. My outcome is to see the effects of the infant’s stabilization and overall

development.
Methodology
The population that is being studied are Indian babies with low birthweight being monitored up to the age of 12 months. Five hundred mothers, paired with their newborn baby, were recruited. They were placed in five groups in a parallel group controlled clinical trial. Within the five groups, the three babies with the lowest birth weight received KMC, while the other two received conventional care. All babies were breastfeed for six months. The intervention group was provided KMC until 40 weeks of gestation or weighted 2500g. The development was measured by using DASHII up until the age of 12 months. DASHII is the developmental assessment scale for Indian infants. The measurements included weight, length, head, chest, and arm circumference. These measurements were recorded at the corrected ages of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
Findings
In regards to the research article, infants in the KMC group showed better physical growth and mental development than the conventional care control group. Physical growth was based on weight, length, and circumference measurements. Originally, KMC infants showed less physical development than the control group. By 40 weeks corrected age, KCM infants surpassed their study counter parts in physical growth. At 12 months, mental and motor development were significantly higher in KMC compared to the conventional care group.
Implications for Nursing Practice
The article does support the problem by showing evidence that Kangaroo Care is beneficial to the low birth weight babies.

The article touches base on the development and physical development of babies receiving Kangaroo care and babies receiving conventional care. Research does show that this method is beneficial, obtainable and is at no cost. Low income countries are strongly and positively affected. This research is useful in regards to nursing practice because skin to skin contact is a simple, meaningful practice that can used in the hospital as well as at home with mothers, fathers, and their baby after discharge. Patient education is one of the best methods to enhance the wellbeing of the patient. Kangaroo care is a technique that can be easily taught. This is good for patients who may have a deficit to leaning or have a language barrier. Nurses can teach the patient by showing rather than reading a

pamphlet.
Conclusion
In developing countries, 40% of death in children under the age of five are newborns. The rate of low birth weights are increasing worldwide. About 1 million infants die globally every year. Not only does early birth increase the risk of death but increases the risk of underdevelopment of mental and physical aspects. Globally, we have areas that lack the equipment and supplies that are needed in the hospital to help infants stabilize. Low income countries also lack health education. The KCM is a free, easy and emotional technique that can successfully help the parents and baby. I believe this article was very helpful in research. However, since the article was only based on Indian babies and used the DASHII assessment tool, I would not feel comfortable using this article to change clinical practice.