Factores asociados al abandono del Programa Madre Canguro entre los años 2019-2021 en Colombia / Factors associated with abandoning from the Kangaroo Mother Program between years 2019 and 2021

Fundamentos: el abandono del programa madre canguro es un problema de salud pública, que afecta la salud de los menores prematuros. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los factores asociados con el abandono de las madres o cuidadores de los menores prematuros en la primera etapa del programa madre canguro de una empresa promotora de salud (eps) del departamento de antioquia (colombia) entre 2019 y 2021. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, transversal y analítico, donde se recopiló información de los ingresos al programa (n=1.344) entre 2019 y 2021. Se realizó la prueba chi-cuadrado, razón de verosimilitud con razón de prevalencias crudas, se aplicó un modelo lineal generalizado de varianza robusta con la razón de prevalencias ajustadas. Resultados: al ajustar el abandono con las variables independientes, se evidenció mayor probabilidad de abandono: con respecto al año 2020 (rp 2,44, ic 95%: 1,94-3,08, valor p=0,0001), estado civil sola con apoyo (rp 1,60, ic 95%: 0,84-3,04, valor p=0,147), nivel académico primaria completa o incompleta (rp 1,48, ic 95% 1,11-1,97, valor p=0,006), ingreso mensual menor al salario mínimo mensual legal vigente (smmlv) (rp 1,26, ic 95%: 1,00-1,59, valor p=0,004) y área de residencia vivir fuera de medellín (rp 1,25, ic 95%: 1,06-1,46, valor p=0,006). Conclusiones: los hallazgos de este estudio pueden ser muy útiles para realizar intervenciones en las familias pertenecientes de los programas canguro, con el objetivo de intervenir factores de riesgo que se asocian con el abandono del programa.(AU)

Background: The abandonment of the Kangaroo Mother Program is a public health problem that affects the health of prema-ture infants. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with the abandonment of mothers or caregivers of premature infants in the first stage of the Kangaroo Mother Program of a Health Promoting Company (EPS) in the department of Antioquia (Colombia), between 2019 and 2021.Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study was carried out, where information was collected on admissions to the program (N=1,344) between 2019 and 2021. The Chi-Square likelihood ratio test was performed with crude prevalence ratio, a genera-lized linear model of robust variance was applied with the adjusted prevalence ratio. Results: When adjusting for dropout with the independent variables, a higher probability of dropout was evidenced: with respect to the year 2020 (PR 2.44, 95% CI: 1.94-3.08, p-value=0.0001), marital status alone with support (PR 1.60, 95% CI: 0.84-3.04, p-value=0. 147), primary school completed or incomplete (PR 1.48, 95% CI 1.11-1.97, p-value=0.006), monthly income less than the current legal monthly minimum wage (CLMMW) (PR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.00-1.59, p-value=0.004) and area of residence living outside Medellin (PR 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06-1.46, p-value=0.006). Conclusions: The findings of this study can be very useful to carry out interventions in families belonging to Kangaroo Pro-grams, with the aim of intervening risk factors associated with program dropout.(AU)

Avaliação da terceira etapa do método canguru na atenção primária a saúde / Evaluation of the third stage of the kangaroo method in primary health care / Evaluación de la tercera etapa del método canguro en atención primaria de salud

Objetivo: avaliar a assistência prestada às crianças pela Atenção Primária à Saúde na terceira etapa do método canguru. Métodos: estudo transversal com 156 crianças pré-termo no período de janeiro a junho de 2020. Utilizou-se questionário contendo variáveis sócio-demográficas, clínicas e relacionadas à assistência prestada. Resultados: Dentre as crianças: 54,5% tinham idade acima de seis meses; 51,9% eram do interior ou de outras localidades; 94,9% eram de baixa renda; 39,1% tiveram peso menor que 1500g; 62,2% e 12,2% nasceram com idade gestacional entre 28 a 33 semanas e inferior a 28 semanas, respectivamente. Quanto à assistência prestada: 74,4% das crianças não realizaram consultas na atenção primária e dentre as atendidas, 78,2% classificaram como ruim/regular; 59,6% não receberam visita domiciliar. Conclusão: a avaliação da terceira etapa do método canguru na atenção primária, sob o olhar de mães, apontou fragilidades na qualificação, integralidade da assistência, redesenho/discussão da rede, na referência e contra-referência.

Objective: to evaluate the assistance provided to children by Primary Health Care in the third stage of the kangaroo method. Methods: cross-sectional study with 156 preterm children from January to June 2020. A questionnaire was used containing socio-demographic, clinical and care-related variables. Results: Among the children: 54.5% were over six months old; 51.9% were from the countryside or other locations; 94.9% were low-income; 39.1% weighed less than 1500g; 62.2% and 12.2% were born with gestational age between 28 and 33 weeks and less than 28 weeks, respectively. As for the assistance provided: 74.4% of the children did not undergo consultations in primary care and among those attended, 78.2% classified it as poor/fair; 59.6% did not receive a home visit. Conclusion: the evaluation of the third stage of the kangaroo method in primary care, from the perspective of mothers, pointed out weaknesses in qualification, comprehensiveness of care, network redesign/discussion, in reference and counter-reference.

Objetivo: evaluar la asistencia brindada a los niños por la Atención Primaria de Salud en la tercera etapa del método canguro. Métodos: estudio transversal con 156 niños prematuros de enero a junio de 2020. Se utilizó un cuestionario con variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y asistenciales. Resultados: Entre los niños: 54,5% tenían más de seis meses; El 51,9% eran del campo u otras localidades; 94,9% eran de bajos ingresos; El 39,1% pesaba menos de 1500 g; El 62,2% y el 12,2% nacieron con edades gestacionales entre 28 y 33 semanas y menos de 28 semanas, respectivamente. En cuanto a la asistencia brindada: el 74,4% de los niños no acudió a consultas en atención primaria y entre los atendidos, el 78,2% la clasificó como mala / regular; El 59,6% no recibió visita domiciliaria. Conclusión: la evaluación de la tercera etapa del método canguro en atención primaria, desde la perspectiva de las madres, señaló debilidades en la calificación, integralidad de la atención, rediseño / discusión de la red, en referencia y contrarreferencia.

Surveying family access: kangaroo mother care and breastfeeding policies across NICUs in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the application of developmental care initiatives in Italian NICUs are rather scarce. We aimed to assess parental access to the NICUs and facilities offered to the family members and to test "the state of art" regarding kangaroo mother care (KMC) and breastfeeding policies in level III Italian NICUs. METHODS: A questionnaire both in paper and in electronic format was sent to all 106 Italian level III NICUs; 86 NICUs (i.e., 80% of NICUs) were completed and returned. The collected data were analysed. In addition, a comparison between the 2017 survey results and those of two previous surveys conducted from 2001 to 2006 was performed. RESULTS: In total, 53 NICUs (62%) reported 24-h open access for both parents (vs. 35% in 2001 and 32% in 2006). Parents were requested to temporarily leave the unit during shift changes, emergencies and medical rounds in 55 NICUs (64%). Some parental amenities, such as an armchair next to the crib (81 units (94%)), a room for pumping milk and a waiting room, were common, but others, such as family rooms (19 units (22%)) and adjoining accommodation (30 units (35%)), were not. KMC was practised in 81 (94%) units, but in 72 (62%), i.e., the majority of units, KMC was limited to specific times. In 11 (13%) NICUs, KMC was not offered to the father. The average duration of a KMC session, based on unit staff estimation, was longer in 24-h access NICUs than in limited-access NICUs. KMC documentation in medical records was reported in only 59% of questionnaires. Breastfeeding was successful in a small proportion of preterm infants staying in the NICU. CONCLUSION: The number of 24-h access NICUs doubled over a period of 13 years. Some basic family facilities, such as a dedicated kitchen, rooms with dedicated beds and showers for the parents, remain uncommon. KMC and breastfeeding have become routine practices; however, the frequency and duration of KMC sessions reported by NICU professionals still do not meet the WHO recommendations.

Modelling mortality within 28 days among preterm infants at a tertiary hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: a retrospective review of hospital-based records.

INTRODUCTION: globally, almost half of all deaths in children under five years of age occur among neonates. We investigated the predictors of mortality within 28 days among preterm infants at a tertiary hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. METHODS: we reviewed admission records linked to birth, mortality, and hospital discharge from 1st January 2018 to 30th September 2019. Information was retrieved with a follow-up period of 28 days post-delivery to discharge/mortality. We used the Weibull hazards regression to establish the best predictor model for mortality among the neonates. RESULTS: a total of 3237 case records of women with a median age of 27 years (IQR, 22-33) were included in the study, of which 971 (30%) delivered term infants and 2267 (70%) preterm infants. The overall median survival time of the infants was 98 hours (IQR, 34-360). Preterm birth was not associated with increased hazards of mortality compared to term birth (p=0.078). Being in the Kangaroo Mother Care compared to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and a unit increase in birth weight were independently associated with reduced hazards of mortality. On the other hand, having hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, experiencing difficulty in feeding and vaginal delivery compared to caesarean section independently increased the hazards of mortality. CONCLUSION: having hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, vaginal delivery, and experiencing difficulty in feeding increases the risk of mortality among neonates. Interventions to reduce neonatal mortality should be directed on these factors in this setting.

Kangaroo mother care: EN-BIRTH multi-country validation study.

BACKGROUND: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) reduces mortality among stable neonates ≤2000 g. Lack of data tracking coverage and quality of KMC in both surveys and routine information systems impedes scale-up. This paper evaluates KMC measurement as part of the Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) study. METHODS: The EN-BIRTH observational mixed-methods study was conducted in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania from 2017 to 2018. Clinical observers collected time-stamped data as gold standard for mother-baby pairs in KMC wards/corners. To assess accuracy, we compared routine register-recorded and women's exit survey-reported coverage to observed data, using different recommended denominator options (≤2000 g and ≤ 2499 g). We analysed gaps in quality of provision and experience of KMC. In the Tanzanian hospitals, we assessed daily skin-to-skin duration/dose and feeding frequency. Qualitative data were collected from health workers and data collectors regarding barriers and enablers to routine register design, filling and use. RESULTS: Among 840 mother-baby pairs, compared to observed 100% coverage, both exit-survey reported (99.9%) and register-recorded coverage (92.9%) were highly valid measures with high sensitivity. KMC specific registers outperformed general registers. Enablers to register recording included perceptions of data usefulness, while barriers included duplication of data elements and overburdened health workers. Gaps in KMC quality were identified for position components including wearing a hat. In Temeke Tanzania, 10.6% of babies received daily KMC skin-to-skin duration/dose of ≥20 h and a further 75.3% received 12-19 h. Regular feeding ≥8 times/day was observed for 36.5% babies in Temeke Tanzania and 14.6% in Muhimbili Tanzania. Cup-feeding was the predominant assisted feeding method. Family support during admission was variable, grandmothers co-provided KMC more often in Bangladesh. No facility arrangements for other family members were reported by 45% of women at exit survey. CONCLUSIONS: Routine hospital KMC register data have potential to track coverage from hospital KMC wards/corners. Women accurately reported KMC at exit survey and evaluation for population-based surveys could be considered. Measurement of content, quality and experience of KMC need consensus on definitions. Prioritising further KMC measurement research is important so that high quality data can be used to accelerate scale-up of high impact care for the most vulnerable.

Assessment of the validity of the measurement of newborn and maternal health-care coverage in hospitals (EN-BIRTH): an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Progress in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths is impeded by data gaps, especially regarding coverage and quality of care in hospitals. We aimed to assess the validity of indicators of maternal and newborn health-care coverage around the time of birth in survey data and routine facility register data. METHODS: Every Newborn-BIRTH Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals was an observational study in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Tanzania. We included women and their newborn babies who consented on admission to hospital. Exclusion critiera at admission were no fetal heartbeat heard or imminent birth. For coverage of uterotonics to prevent post-partum haemorrhage, early initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 h), neonatal bag-mask ventilation, kangaroo mother care (KMC), and antibiotics for clinically defined neonatal infection (sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis), we collected time-stamped, direct observation or case note verification data as gold standard. We compared data reported via hospital exit surveys and via hospital registers to the gold standard, pooled using random effects meta-analysis. We calculated population-level validity ratios (measured coverage to observed coverage) plus individual-level validity metrics. FINDINGS: We observed 23 471 births and 840 mother-baby KMC pairs, and verified the case notes of 1015 admitted newborn babies regarding antibiotic treatment. Exit-survey-reported coverage for KMC was 99·9% (95% CI 98·3-100) compared with observed coverage of 100% (99·9-100), but exit surveys underestimated coverage for uterotonics (84·7% [79·1-89·5]) vs 99·4% [98·7-99·8] observed), bag-mask ventilation (0·8% [0·4-1·4]) vs 4·4% [1·9-8·1]), and antibiotics for neonatal infection (74·7% [55·3-90·1] vs 96·4% [94·0-98·6] observed). Early breastfeeding coverage was overestimated in exit surveys (53·2% [39·4-66·8) vs 10·9% [3·8-21·0] observed). "Don't know" responses concerning clinical interventions were more common in the exit survey after caesarean birth. Register data underestimated coverage of uterotonics (77·9% [37·8-99·5] vs 99·2% [98·6-99·7] observed), bag-mask ventilation (4·3% [2·1-7·3] vs 5·1% [2·0-9·6] observed), KMC (92·9% [84·2-98·5] vs 100% [99·9-100] observed), and overestimated early breastfeeding (85·9% (58·1-99·6) vs 12·5% [4·6-23·6] observed). Inter-hospital heterogeneity was higher for register-recorded coverage than for exit survey report. Even with the same register design, accuracy varied between hospitals. INTERPRETATION: Coverage indicators for newborn and maternal health care in exit surveys had low accuracy for specific clinical interventions, except for self-report of KMC, which had high sensitivity after admission to a KMC ward or corner and could be considered for further assessment. Hospital register design and completion are less standardised than surveys, resulting in variable data quality, with good validity for the best performing sites. Because approximately 80% of births worldwide take place in facilities, standardising register design and information systems has the potential to sustainably improve the quality of data on care at birth. FUNDING: Children's Investment Fund Foundation and Swedish Research Council.

Umbilical cord clamping and skin-to-skin contact in deliveries from women positive for SARS-CoV-2: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that delayed cord clamping (DCC) is safe in mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective observational study involving epidemiological information from 403 pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 between 1 March and 31 May 2020. Data were collected from 70 centres that participate in the Spanish Registry of COVID-19. METHODS: Patients' information was collected from their medical chart. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The rate of perinatal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and development of the infection in neonates within 14 days postpartum. RESULTS: The early cord clamping (ECC) group consisted of 231 infants (57.3%) and the DCC group consisted of 172 infants (42.7%). Five positive newborns (1.7% of total tests performed) were identified with the nasopharyngeal PCR tests performed in the first 12 hours postpartum, two from the ECC group (1.7%) and three from the DCC group (3.6%). No significant differences between groups were found regarding neonatal tests for SARS-CoV-2. No confirmed cases of vertical transmission were detected. The percentage of mothers who made skin-to-skin contact within the first 24 hours after delivery was significantly higher in the DCC group (84.3% versus 45.9%). Breastfeeding in the immediate postpartum period was also significantly higher in the DCC group (77.3% versus 50.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show no differences in perinatal outcomes when performing ECC or DCC, and skin-to-skin contact, or breastfeeding. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: This study demonstrates that delayed cord clamping is safe in mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

"So sometimes, it looks like it's a neglected ward": Health worker perspectives on implementing kangaroo mother care in southern Malawi.

INTRODUCTION: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) involves continuous skin-to-skin contact of baby on mother's chest to provide warmth, frequent breastfeeding, recognizing danger signs of illness, and early discharge. Though KMC is safe, effective and recommended by the World Health Organization, implementation remains limited in practice. The objective of this study is to understand barriers and facilitators to KMC practice at tertiary and secondary health facilities in southern Malawi from the perspective of health workers. METHODS: This study is part of the "Integrating a neonatal healthcare package for Malawi" project in the Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa initiative. In-depth interviews were conducted between May-Aug 2019 with a purposively drawn sample of service providers and supervisors working in newborn health at a large tertiary hospital and three district-level hospitals in southern Malawi. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach using NVivo 12 software (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia). FINDINGS: A total of 27 nurses, clinical officers, paediatricians and district health management officials were interviewed. Staff attitudes, inadequate resources and reliance on families emerged as key themes. Health workers from Malawi described KMC practice positively as a low-cost, low-technology solution appropriate for resource-constrained health settings. However, staff perceptions that KMC babies were clinically stable was associated with lower prioritization in care and poor monitoring practices. Neglect of the KMC ward by medical staff, inadequate staffing and reliance on caregivers for supplies were associated with women self-discharging early. CONCLUSION: Though routine uptake of KMC was policy for stable low birthweight and preterm infants in the four hospitals, there were gaps in monitoring and maintenance of practice. While conceptualized as a low-cost intervention, sustainable implementation requires investments in technologies, staffing and hospital provisioning of basic supplies such as food, bedding, and KMC wraps. Strengthening hospital capacities to support KMC is needed as part of a continuum of care for premature infants.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm babies during infancy in Eastern Uganda: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Complications due to prematurity are a threat to child survival and full developmental potential particularly in low-income settings. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the neurodevelopmental outcomes among preterm infants and identify any modifiable factors associated with neurodevelopmental disability (NDD). METHODS: We recruited 454 babies (242 preterms with birth weight <2.5 kg, and 212 term babies) in a cohort study at birth from Iganga hospital between May and July 2018. We followed up the babies at an average age of 7 months (adjusted for prematurity) and assessed 211 preterm and 187 term infants for neurodevelopmental outcomes using the Malawi Developmental Assessment tool. Mothers were interviewed on care practices for the infants. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14. RESULTS: The study revealed a high incidence of NDD of 20.4% (43/211) among preterm infants compared to 7.5% (14/187) among the term babies, p < 0.001, of the same age. The most affected domain was fine motor (11.8%), followed by language (9.0%). At multivariate analysis, malnutrition and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) at home after discharge were the key factors that were significantly associated with NDD among preterm babies. The prevalence of malnutrition among preterm infants was 20% and this significantly increased the odds of developing NDD, OR = 2.92 (95% CI: 1.27-6.71). KMC practice at home reduced the odds of developing NDD, OR = 0.46, (95% CI: 0.21-1.00). Re-admission of preterm infants after discharge (a sign of severe illness) increased the odds of developing NDD but this was not statistically significant, OR = 2.33 (95% CI: 0.91-5.94). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that preterm infants are at a high risk of developing NDD, especially those with malnutrition. Health system readiness should be improved to provide follow-up care with emphasis on improving nutrition and continuity of KMC at home.

Effect of Kangaroo Care and Oral Sucrose on Pain in Premature Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit are routinely exposed to many painful procedures. Pain experienced during the neonatal period may lead to negative outcomes, especially in preterm neonates, hence pain in infants should be reduced. Kangaroo care and oral sucrose are some of the methods that can help reduce pain. AIM: This study aimed to compare the effects of kangaroo care and oral sucrose on pain relief in preterm infants during heel lancing. METHODS: Our study involved 64 infants. The infants were randomly divided into two groups using a randomized block design of drawing out slips from a thick, non-transparent envelope. There were 64 slips in this envelope (32 for kangaroo care and 32 for oral sucrose). Kangaroo care was given to the preterm infants in the first group and oral sucrose to those in the second group. In both groups, heart rate and oxygen saturation were measured and pain score was evaluated by two observers using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) before, during, and 2 minutes after blood sampling by heel lancing. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in favor of the kangaroo group in terms of change in the PIPP values after heel lancing. Kangaroo care is more effective than oral sucrose in pain relief during heel lancing in preterm infants. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to many benefits it offers to infants, kangaroo care can be used to reduce pain during painful procedures in premature infants.

Barriers and facilitators of kangaroo mother care adoption in five Chinese hospitals: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been proved to be a safe and cost-effective standard of care for preterm babies. China hasn't adopted the KMC practice widely until recently. We aim to assess barriers and facilitators of KMC adoption in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and postnatal wards in China. METHODS: We conducted clinical observations and semi-structured interviews with nurses, physicians, and parents who performed KMC in seven NICUs and postnatal wards housed in five hospitals in different provinces of China between August and September 2018. The interviews provided first-hand stakeholder perspectives on barriers and facilitators of KMC implementation and sustainability. We further explored health system's readiness and families' willingness to sustain KMC practice following its pilot introduction. We coded data for emerging themes related to financial barriers, parent- and hospital-level perceived barriers, and facilitators of KMC adoption, specifically those unique in the Chinese context. RESULTS: Five hospitals with KMC pilot programs were selected for clinical observations and 38 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Common cultural barriers included concerns with the conflict with traditional postpartum confinement (Zuo-yue-zi) practice and grandparents' resistance, while a strong family support is a facilitator for KMC adoption. Some parents reported anxiety and guilt associated with having a preterm baby, which can be a parental-level barrier to KMC. Hospital-level factors such as fear of nosocomial infection and shortage of staff and spaces impeded the KMC implementation, and supportive community and peer group organized by the hospital contributed to KMC uptake. Financial barriers included lodging costs for caregivers and supply costs for hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: We provided a comprehensive in-depth report on the multi-level KMC barriers and facilitators in China. We recommend policy interventions specifically addressing these barriers and facilitators and increase family and peer support to improve KMC adoption in China. We also recommend that well-designed local cultural and economic feasibility and acceptability studies should be conducted before the KMC uptake.

Intermittent kangaroo mother care and the practice of breastfeeding late preterm infants: results from four hospitals in different provinces of China.

BACKGROUND: China has an extremely low exclusive breastfeeding rate. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been shown to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate among infants born extremely or very preterm. However, there is limited evidence surrounding intermittent KMC and exclusive breastfeeding in late preterm infants. In our study we investigated the association between the provision of intermittent KMC and breastfeeding practice for late preterm infants in four hospitals in different provinces of China. METHODS: Intermittent KMC was recommended to the mothers of all preterm infants admitted to the postnatal wards of participating hospitals between March 2018 and March 2019. Those who agreed to practice KMC were enrolled in the "KMC group", those who did not were enrolled in the "No KMC group". Basic maternal socio-demographic information was collected, feeding practice; outcome and method, were recorded daily whilst in hospital. A follow-up survey of feeding practice was conducted 42 days after discharge. Calculations for feeding practice were performed separately for both groups. Logistics regression was used to analyze the association between KMC and feeding outcome and method, adjusting for socio-demographic covariates. RESULTS: Among the 844 mothers participating in the study, 627 (74.3%) chose to perform KMC. More of the mothers who provided KMC were exclusively breast milk feeding their infants in the 24 h before hospital discharge (54.6%) and at follow-up (57.3%), compared to mothers who did not provide KMC (34.6% at discharge and 33.2% at follow-up,). Mothers in the KMC group were more likely to be breastfeeding (method) than mothers in the No KMC group (65.3% vs. 52.1% at discharge, and 83.1% vs. 67.3% at follow up). Logistic regression indicated that compared with the No KMC group, mothers who provided KMC were twice as likely to be exclusively breast milk feeding their infants at discharge (OR = 2.15 (95% CI 1.53, 3.02)), use breastfeeding method at discharge as opposed to other means such as bottle or cup feeding (OR = 1.61 (95% CI 1.15, 2.25)), be exclusive breast milk feeding at follow-up (OR = 2.55 (95% CI 1.81, 3.61)), and use breastfeeding method at follow-up (OR = 2.09 (95% CI 1.44, 3.02)). CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent KMC was associated with a nearly doubled increase in exclusive breast milk feeding (outcome) and breastfeeding (method) at both discharge and 42 days after discharge for late preterm infants. This is especially important in China where exclusive breastfeeding rates are low, intermittent KMC provides a feasible means to increase the likelihood of these vulnerable infants receiving the benefits of exclusive breastmilk.

Clinician Opinions and Approaches to Manage Risk Related to Safe Sleep During Skin-to-Skin Care.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the opinions of clinicians about the risks, benefits, barriers, and facilitators to the practice of parent sleep during skin-to-skin care in hospital settings. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Online survey. PARTICIPANTS: Clinicians who self-identified as infant care providers, that is, neonatal clinicians (N = 158). METHODS: We sent an online survey invitation to neonatal clinicians through neonatal websites, conferences, and social media sites in the United States and used snowball recruitment. We used a risk management framework to analyze qualitative data. We used descriptive statistics and the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests to determine if opinions differed based on clinician and organizational characteristics. RESULTS: Respondents' support of parent sleep during skin-to-skin care (yes/no) did not differ on the basis of whether the clinician had taken a formal course on skin-to-skin care, facilitated skin-to-skin care more than 100 times, or frequently promoted skin-to-skin care in current practice. Respondents who supported parent sleep (n = 93, 59% of respondents) reported greater implementation of risk control strategies than nonsupporters (n = 53 [57%] vs. n = 3 [5%]; p < .001), such as frequent monitoring of vital signs (n = 33 [35%] vs. n = 2 [3%]; p < .001), use of devices to support skin-to-skin care (n = 49 [53%] vs. n = 19 [29%]; p = .003), and proper positioning (n = 20 [22%] vs. n = 0 [0%]; p < .001). Nonsupporters more frequently reported that parent sleep during skin-to-skin care violates safe sleep recommendations, is habit forming for home, poses a fall risk, and jeopardizes the infant's airway. CONCLUSION: Most respondents supported parent sleep during skin-to-skin care, but concerns regarding safety for the infant remained a barrier. The use of a risk management framework may help facilitate a systematic approach to improve the implementation of safe skin-to-skin practices.

Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding of newborns in a university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of skin-to-skin contact (STSC) and breastfeeding (BF) stimulation, as well as the reasons for these practices not to be performed; to identify whether women were given information on these practices along the pre-natal monitoring. METHOD: A cross-sectional study carried out in a university hospital with 586 women. Data collection was from February to September 2016. Data was collected from patient records and from a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: Immediately after birth, 60.1% of the newborns (NBs) had STSC, and 44.9% were stimulated to suck at the breast. After primary care, 24.1% had STSC, and 69.3% were stimulated to suck at the breast; 47.7% of the newborns did not have STSC due to their unfavorable clinical conditions; 79.2% of the women were not able to inform the reason why BF was not stimulated; 58.5% of the women had pre-natal guidance about STSC, and 90.8% about BF. CONCLUSION: Both STSC and BF rates could be improved, in view of the benefits provided by these practices.

Association of Neonatal Hypothermia with Morbidity and Mortality in a Tertiary Hospital in Malawi.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate associations with neonatal hypothermia in a tertiary-level neonatal unit (NU) in Malawi. METHODS: Neonates with a birth weight >1000 g were recruited and temperatures were recorded 5 min after birth, on admission and 4 h thereafter. Clinical course and outcome were reviewed. Data were analysed using Stata v.15 and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Between August 2018 to March 2019, 120 neonates were enrolled, and 112 were included in the data analysis. Hypothermia at 5 min after birth was noted in 74%, 77% on admission to the NU and 38% at 24 h. Neonates who had hypothermia 5 min after birth were more likely to have hypothermia on admission to the NU compared with normothermic subjects (p < 0.01). All neonates with hypothermia on admission to the NU died (100 vs.72%, p = 0.02), but hypothermia at 5 min nor at 24 h were not associated with mortality. After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds ratio of hypothermia at 5 min for hypothermia on admission to NU was 13.31 (95% CI 4.17-42.54). DISCUSSION: A large proportion of hospitalized neonates is hypothermic on admission and has associated morbidity and mortality. Our findings suggest that a strong predictor of mortality is neonatal hypothermia on admission to the NU, and that early intervention in the immediate period after delivery could decrease the incidence of hypothermia and reduce associated morbidity and mortality.

The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact on Maternal Anxiety, Heart Rate, and Oxygen Saturation during the Vaccination of One-Month-Old Infants.

This study aimed to reduce maternal anxiety scores and heart rates, increase oxygen saturation linked to vaccination processes with Skin-to skin contact (SSC). The study is a prospective, multicenter, paired, randomized, controlled trial. This experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest control group. The study was carried out with 128 mothers of infants. A Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the State Anxiety Inventory and a pulse oximeter were used in the data collection. In the study, SSC began to be given to the infants in the intervention group five minutes before vaccination and the infant was left in SSC for an uninterrupted 15 minutes following the vaccination. The maternal anxiety scores were noted before and after the vaccination process. The mothers' heart rates and oxygen saturation were monitored a total of three times. The anxiety scores of the intervention group decreased while oxygen saturation increased after the vaccination as compared to the control group. The heart rate decreased in the intervention group but increased in the control group. The study revealed that SSC reduced scores of maternal anxiety and heart rates and increased oxygen saturation during the vaccination process.

Kangaroo Care for Hospitalized Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Kangaroo care (KC), or skin-to-skin care, occurs when an infant is dressed in a diaper and held to a parent's bare chest. This form of holding has been shown to have many benefits for hospitalized infants and has been shown to be a safe and feasible intervention to support infants with congenital heart disease. Despite known benefits, KC was not implemented routinely and consistently in our cardiac center for infants with congenital heart disease. The purpose of this project was to support use of KC as a nursing intervention for hospitalized infants with congenital heart disease and their parents. METHODS: A KC quality improvement committee formed to develop strategies to increase frequency of KC, including the creation of a new nursing policy and procedure on KC for infants, adaptation of the electronic health record to facilitate KC documentation, education, and supporting translation of KC into practice through the cardiac center's first Kangaroo-A-Thon. RESULTS: Twenty-six nurses initiated KC 43 times with 14 patients over the 8-week period for the Kangaroo-A-Thon. No adverse events were reported as a result of infants being held by their parents in KC. CONCLUSION: Our local initiative provided preliminary evidence that KC can be safely integrated into standard care for hospitalized infants with congenital heart disease. Formal standards and procedures, along with creative initiatives such as a Kangaroo-A-Thon, can be a first step toward fostering the translation of KC into practice.

A multi-year analysis of kangaroo mother care outcomes in low birth weight babies at a Nyakahanga Hospital in rural Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) requires few specialized resources, reduces mortality, and can be implemented in low resource environments. It is now recommended for implementation around the globe. OBJECTIVES: This paper discusses KMC use with low birth weight newborns at a Tanzania hospital providing valuable outcomes assessment of KMC use in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: The research used retrospective records (136 Low Birth Weight (LBW) and 33 Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) neonates) supplemented by observations. Data included weights (longitudinal), survival period, and cause of death if it occurred. This hospital's KMC use and study data began when the mother-baby dyad was referred, usually birth day. RESULTS: This KMC group demonstrated 70% survival, but 77% of deaths occur within 24 hours. After the first 24 hours, KMC survival rate was 92%. Even VLBW neonates (<1000 g) had 37.5% survival among the KMC program. Prematurity and respiratory distress caused nearly half of the deaths, but hypothermia (19% of deaths) and infection were factors also. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates the value of KMC in rural low resource environments. Results are comparable to KMC programs in urban areas where newborns begin KMC after stabilization and better than outcomes reported for comparable populations not practicing KMC in rural sub-Saharan Africa.

Systematic Review of the Effects of Skin-to-Skin Care on Short-Term Physiologic Stress Outcomes in Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are exposed to many stressors. There is growing evidence that chronic stress early in life has long-term neurodevelopmental implications. Skin-to-skin care (SSC) is an intervention used to reduce stress in the NICU. CLINICAL QUESTION: In premature infants in the NICU, what is the available evidence that SSC improves short-term physiologic stress outcomes compared with incubator care? SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed and CINAHL were searched for terms related to SSC, stress, physiology, and premature infants. Of 1280 unique articles, 19 were identified that reported on research studies comparing SSC with incubator care in the NICU and reported stress-related physiologic outcome measures. RESULTS: Although there have been some mixed findings, the research supports that SSC improves short-term cardiorespiratory stress outcomes compared with incubator care. The evidence is clearer for studies reporting stress hormone outcomes, with strong evidence that SSC reduces cortisol and increases oxytocin levels in preterm infants. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: SSC is safe and has stress-reducing benefits. SSC should be considered an essential component to providing optimal care in the NICU. More research is needed to determine the timing of initiation, duration, and frequency of SSC to optimize the stress-reducing benefits. Future research should include the most fragile infants, who are most likely to benefit from SSC, utilize power analyses to ensure adequate sample sizes, and use sophisticated data collection and analysis techniques to more accurately evaluate the effect of SSC on infants in the NICU.

A Kangaroo Care Pathway for NICU Staff and Families: The Proof Is in the Pouch.

BACKGROUND: Kangaroo care (KC) improves bonding and neonatal health outcomes worldwide. However, concerns for patient safety, interrupted workflow, and parent readiness continued to impede KC in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Its current policy did not recommend using more than 1 staff member during patient transfer. In addition, NICU staff and parents lacked skills training and education regarding the feasibility of routine KC. PURPOSE: A KC pathway was developed and integrated within a multifaceted, champion-based, simulated educational training program for NICU staff and families to promote earlier and more frequent KC by increasing their knowledge and comfort with this practice. METHODS: Patient data collected before and after the study determined the frequency, timing, and mode of respiratory support during KC. Pre- and posttest surveys evaluated nurses' knowledge and comfort level with KC. RESULTS: The frequency of KC occurred 2.4 times more after the intervention. The percentage of KC episodes for intubated patients nearly doubled. The posttest survey scores for nursing knowledge and comfort level also markedly improved. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The KC pathway ameliorated feelings of discomfort by depicting criteria and instructions for safe practice. Multidisciplinary champions were invaluable in assisting the nursing staff with patient transfer during KC. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: More dose-response studies are needed to maximize the clinical benefits of KC in developed countries.