TITLE:
Follow-Up Profile and Outcome of Preterms Managed with Kangaroo Mother Care
AUTHORS:
Wubishet Lakew, Bogale Worku
KEYWORDS:
Preterm, Very Low Birth Weight, Kangaroo Mother Care, Follow Up Profile
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.4 No.2,
May
22,
2014
ABSTRACT: Background: Kangaroo
mother care (KMC) is effective in preventing hypothermia, establishing
breastfeeding, and reducing nosocomial infection in preterm babies in
resource-limited areas. Relatively little is known about long-term morbidity
and mortality outcomes among Ethiopian infants managed with KMC. Aims: To
describe the follow up profiles and outcome of infants managed with KMC and
discharged alive. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study examined
outcomes among infants who were 1) managed by KMC at Black Lion Hospital, 2)
discharged alive, and 3) available for follow-up. Structured, pretested
questionnaires were administered to mothers. Results: Of the 110 infants
included in the study, 9.1% died over the study period and 60% of the deaths
occurred at home. Mortality was 100% in those babies with mothers aged less
than 18 years. Thirty five percent of the deaths occurred in those from rural
location. Common medical problems identified in study subjects were respiratory
infections (10%), gastroenteritis (7%), rickets (7%), and anemia (6%). About
20% of infants were readmitted to hospital at least once. KMC initiation within
one week was not found to be significantly associated with survival, but
continued KMC after discharge significantly decreased mortality in our sample.
Conclusion: Frequent follow up is very important especially those with teenage
mothers and coming from a rural location. Follow up should be frequent in the
first 2 months after discharge. Further research is needed to explore the
determinants of mortality and morbidity after hospital discharge.