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Knowledge and Awareness about Benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care

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Abstract

Objective

To determine mothers’ prior knowledge of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and awareness about benefits of KMC for preterm babies.

Methods

Mothers of a consecutive sample of 46 preterm babies, eligible for KMC admitted to a teaching hospital, from June through August 2009, were studied to determine the attitude and knowledge about KMC. A structured questionnaire was prepared. Mothers were asked questions to determine their baseline knowledge about KMC. Then each mother was explained about KMC and instructed to do KMC. After one hour of KMC, mothers were asked questions again to know their feelings and difficulties regarding KMC and feasibility of breast feeding during KMC.

Results

Most of the mothers could understand what was explained to them (97.8 %; 95 % CI 88.5–99.9 %) in a single session. Positive feelings like closeness to baby (93.5 %) and sense of goodness (97.8 %) were noted amongst mothers. Though statistically not significant, the proportion of mothers who felt it impracticable to give breast feeding while doing KMC was considerable (39.1 %; 95 % CI 25.1–54.6 %) compared to those who felt no difficulty in breast feeding (60.9 %; 95 % CI 45.4–74.9 %). Practicable duration of KMC is 1, 2 and 12 h as felt by 52 %, 19.6 % and 6.5 % of mothers respectively. All the mothers expressed their willingness to continue KMC at home.

Conclusions

Mothers can understand and implement KMC with simple and clear oral instructions in local language. Positive feelings arise in mothers even with 1 h of KMC. KMC of 24 h is not practicable to almost all of the mothers. There is a need for special emphasis on breast feeding the child while doing the KMC.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the babies and mothers who cooperated for the study willingly. They thank the staff of pediatric department for their cooperation.

Contributions

MGK: Concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting and final approval, SLB: Concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting and final approval. RKC: Design, analysis, drafting, revising and final approval.

Conflict of Interest

None.

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None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, MGMH/Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Gopi Krishna Muddu & Sangeetha Lakshmi Boju

  2. Department of Pediatrics (emeritus), Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Ravikumar Chodavarapu

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Dr PSIMS & RF, Chinnaavutapalli, Gannavaram, Krishna Dt, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Ravikumar Chodavarapu

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital, Prashanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh, 515134, India

    Gopi Krishna Muddu

Authors
  1. Gopi Krishna Muddu
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  2. Sangeetha Lakshmi Boju
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  3. Ravikumar Chodavarapu
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Correspondence to Gopi Krishna Muddu.

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Muddu, G.K., Boju, S.L. & Chodavarapu, R. Knowledge and Awareness about Benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care. Indian J Pediatr 80, 799–803 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1073-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1073-0

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