Study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of Kangaroo mother care among post-natal mothers in a tertiary care centre of North Kerala, India

Abstract

Background: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a practical low-cost intervention which is very cost effective in developing countries for babies weighing less than 2500 g. This study is aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices about KMC in the post-natal mothers of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm babies before and after a teaching session by a trained staff in a tertiary care center in North KeralaMethods: A cross sectional descriptive study of 201 mothers whose neonates were admitted in Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of tertiary care centre from June 2014 to June 2015. Mothers were interviewed at enrolment to assess their knowledge of KMC and were then oriented on its practice. Data about their perceptions, attitudes and practices of KMC were recorded before they were discharged from the hospital.Results: At recruitment (95.4%) mothers didn’t know about KMC. 80% of mothers could follow the verbal instructions in first sitting. 92.8% of mothers reflected photo exhibition would have been better than verbal explanation, 91.8% of mothers thought that KMC is beneficial for their babies and 89% thought that it was beneficial for them too. At discharge 99% were willing to continue KMC at home with 93.1% willing to practice at night. 100% would recommend KMC to other mothers. All of them were practicing intermittent KMC and believed that other family members especially grandmothers could also be KMC providers as well.Conclusions: Maternal knowledge of KMC was low before enrolment, but after initiation mothers were happily practicing KMC in hospital with assurance to continue same from home and involve other family members in KMC care.