Government‐led initiative increased the effective use of Kangaroo Mother Care in a region of North India

Abstract

Aim To learn how to achieve high‐quality, effective coverage of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), defined as 8 hours or more of skin‐to‐skin contact per day and exclusive breastfeeding in district Sonipat in North India, and to develop and evaluate an implementation model. Methods We conducted implementation research using a mixed‐methods approach, including formative research, followed by repeated, rapid cycles of implementation, evaluation and refinement until a model with the potential for high and effective coverage was reached. Evaluation of this model was conducted over a 12‐month period. Results Formative research findings informed the final implementation model. Programme learning was critical to achieve high coverage. The model included improving the identification of small babies, creating KMC wards, modification in hospitalisation criteria, private sector engagement and in‐built programme learning to refine implementation progress. KMC was initiated in 87% of eligible babies. At discharge, 85% received skin‐to‐skin contact care, 60% effective KMC and 80% were exclusively breastfed. At home, 7‐day post discharge, 81% received skin‐to‐skin care and 79% were exclusively breastfed in the previous 24 hours. Conclusion Achieving high KMC coverage is feasible in the study setting using a model responsive to the local context and led by the Government.

Developing context‐specific models to achieve high coverage and quality of KMC in India and Ethiopia: Learnings from implementation research

“…Several factors supported these positive results and each paper in this supplement highlights site‐specific factors 5–11 . Government guidelines were supportive in all sites.…”

“…| 5 EDITO RIA L approach to implementation challenges for other difficult-to-scale publichealthinterventions.…”

“…This supplement brings together eight papers published by Acta Paediatrica 5–12 . They present learnings from a multi‐site implementation research 13 on how to accelerate the scale‐up of KMC in support of these goals.…”

“…4 ThissupplementbringstogethereightpaperspublishedbyActa Paediatrica. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] They present learnings from a multi-site implementationresearch 13 ThisisanopenaccessarticledistributedunderthetermsoftheCreativeCommonsAttributionIGOLicense,whichpermitsunrestricteduse,distributionand reproductioninanymedium,providedtheoriginalworkisproperlycited. ©2023WorldHealthOrganization;licensedbyFoundationActaPaediatrica.PublishedbyJohnWiley&SonsLtd.…”