This quasi-experimental study evaluated the impact of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) versus Conventional Care (CC) on the growth, developmental milestones, breastfeeding, vaccination, and mortality of low birth weight infants in Services Hospital Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 400 infants were enrolled and followed for one year.
This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Lahore, Pakistan, to compare the impact of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) versus Conventional Care (CC) on low birth weight infants. A total of 400 infants (200 in each group) born between January 2020 and December 2022 were included in the study, with participants selected based on specific inclusion criteria and informed consent obtained. KMC involved continuous skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant during the hospital stay and continued at home for at least 8 hours daily. The follow-up schedule included appointments at six weeks after birth, monthly visits until six months of age, and quarterly visits until the infants reached one year of age. During these visits, the study collected data on infant growth, developmental milestones, breastfeeding practices, and vaccination status. The study was ethically approved by the research ethics committee, and data collection was conducted during scheduled follow-up visits to the outpatient department.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
400
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) involves continuous skin-to-skin contact between the mother (or another family member) and the infant, aimed at promoting thermal regulation, breastfeeding, and bonding. In this study, KMC was initiated in the hospital and continued at home for a minimum of 8 hours daily.
Services Institute of Medical sciences
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Duration of Breastfeeding
breastfeeding initiation within 2 hours, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, breastfeeding up to one year
Time frame: from 2 hours to 1 year
Number of babies with complete vaccination
infant receiving all scheduled vaccinations within their first year of life
Time frame: 1 year
Average weight of baby
Weight of infant in Kg at birth, 6 weeks, 1 year, 6 months, and 1 year
Time frame: 1 year
average length of infant
Length of infant in cms at birth, 6 weeks, 1 year, 6 months, and 1 year
Time frame: 1 year
Average head circumference of infant
Head circumference of infant in cms at birth, 6 weeks, 1 year, 6 months, and 1 year
Time frame: 1 year
Number of babies Holding head up
baby able to hold their head up
Time frame: 3 months
Number of babies Sitting without support
Baby gets into sitting position without help
Time frame: 6 months
Number of babies roll over
baby able to roll from side to side
Time frame: 8 months
Number of babies crawling
baby able to move forward on hands and knees
Time frame: 10 months
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Number of babies babbles
baby able to produce repititive incomprehensible sounds
Time frame: 6 months
Number of babies produce 2 syllable sounds
baby able to produce words that have two definite sounds
Time frame: 9 months
cumulative Mortality rate
Death of baby
Time frame: 1 year
Number of babies with Hypothermia
core body temperature less than 35 degree celsius
Time frame: 72 hours
Number of babies with Sepsis
infection leading to life threatening inflammatory response
Time frame: 72 hours