Outcome of premature and low birth weight infants who received kangaroo mother care in neonatal intensive care unit at a tertiary care hospital.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on the outcome of growth amongst preterm low birth weight (LBW) infants. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Setting: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Shifa International Hospitals Limited, Islamabad, Pakistan. Period: April 2025 to September 2025. Methods: A total of 82 LBW and preterm newborns admitted to the NICU, were included. Group allocation was pragmatic and non-random. Weight, length, and head circumference measured at birth and then serially till the time of discharge, duration of hospitalization along with complications were recorded. Analyses used IBM-SPSS Statistics v26, by applying appropriate statistical tests taking p<0.05 as significant. Results: Amongst 82 participants, 45 (54.9%) received KMC, and 37 (45.1%) did not. Females accounted for 44 (53.7%) infants. Discharge weight was 2410.8±295.6 g with KMC, and 2178.9±318.1 g without KMC (p=0.001), and daily weight gain was 17.2±4.1 g/day with KMC, and 14.1±4.7 g/day with non-KMC (p=0.002). Length (p=0.029), length gain (p=0.034), head circumference (p=0.041), and head circumference gain (p=0.018) at discharge were significantly higher among infants undergoing KMCs. Hospital stay was 8.0 (6.0 to 11.5) days among KMC infants, and 12.0 (6.0 to 16.5) days among non-KMC infants (p=0.010). Complication occurred in 6 (13.3%) KMC infants, and 12 (32.4%) non-KMC infants, with risk ratio 0.4 (0.2 to 0.9; p=0.031). Conclusion: KMC significantly improves growth outcomes, reduces hospitalization, and lowers overall morbidity in stable preterm LBW infants, including those on non-invasive respiratory support. Structured KMC should be integrated into routine NICU practice.