Good Short-Term Outcome of Kangaroo Mother care in Low Birth Weight Infants in a Rural South African Hospital

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the outcome of kangaroo mother care (KMC) in low birth weight infants at a community hospital. Methods: This descriptive study included 87 mothers and their low birth weight infants who were in a stable condition and eligible for KMC at Dr JS Moroka Hospital; Thaba Nchu. The infants were assessed four times at birth; twice during hospitalisation; and a week after discharge. Infants received breast milk exclusively.Results: Regarding the mothers' obstetric history (n=87); gravidity ranged from 1 to 7 (median 3); with a 43 incidence of miscarriage. The median birth weight of the infants (n=87) was 1.5 kg (first assessment); the discharge weight (third assessment) was 1.8 kg; and a week after discharge (fourth assessment) it was 2.2 kg. Initially the infants lost weight significantly from birth to the second assessment (95 CI for median decrease [-0.02; -0.01]); but significantly gained weight from the second to the third (95 CI for median decrease [0.27; 0.33]) and from the third to the fourth assessment (95 CI for median decrease [0.32; 0.45]). Approximately half (49) of the infants had developed jaundice by the time of second assessment. These babies had a significantly lower birth weight [0.12;0.30]. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that infants with a low birth weight treated with KMC can have a good growth pattern; and exclusive breast milk is sufficient to guarantee such growth. Kangaroo mother care is a safe method for stable infants with a low birth weight in a community hospital