Effect of kangaroo mother care plus touch therapy versus kangaroo mother care alone on the low-birth-weight infant’s growth and physiologic responses: Randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Background@#Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has facilitated infant growth and decreased morbidities and hospital stay. Adding touch therapy (TT) may potentiate the KMC benefits. @*Objective@#To compare the effectiveness of KMC+TT versus KMC alone in improving anthropometric and physiologic parameters and decreasing morbidities and hospital stay in low birth weight (LBW) infants. @*Methods@#Stable LBW infants (<2000 g) admitted in the KMC ward were randomized to either intervention (KMC+TT) or control (KMC only) group. The KMC+TT group underwent thrice daily touch therapy sessions until discharge. @*Results@#A total of 50 infants were included in the study. Baseline characteristics between the two groups were comparable. There was a significant increase in weight gain (grams/kg/day) in the KMC+TT group compared to KMC only. Physiologic parameters like heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature were significantly better in the KMC+TT group. More infants in the KMC only group were transferred to NICU care, while more KMC+TT infants went home against advice. Hospital stay was similar between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#Touch therapy added to KMC is more effective than KMC alone in improving weight gain and physiologic parameters. It is associated with lower morbidities, although it did not affect the hospital stay.