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Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care Transport in Preventing Moderate Hypothermia in Low Birth Weight Babies During Transportion to Home After Discharge: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Background

Transport of neonates is often neglected, which results in high mortality of neonates during transport.

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of kangaroo mother care (KMC) in terms of hypothermia prevention during transport from hospital to home for low birth weight neonates.

Study design

Randomized controlled trial.

Participants

A total of 152 low birth weight neonates being discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital between March, 2021 and August, 2022.

Intervention

Neonates in the study group (n=76) received KMC during transport from the hospital to home, while the control group (n=76) did not receive KMC during transport. Axillary temperature was recorded in both groups at the time of discharge, every 5 minutes during transport, and on reaching home.

Outcomes

Hypothermia episodes in neonates while receiving KMC compared to neonates not receiving KMC.

Results

Primary endpoint of the study was moderate hypothermia. During transport, 23 (30.3%) neonates in the control group experienced moderate hypothermia during transport, which was statistically significant [0% vs 30.3%; P<0.001]. From 10 minutes of transport till the neonates reached home, the mean (SD) temperature in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group [36.8 (0.23) °C vs 36.6 (0.3) °C; P<0.001] at time 15 minutes. Similar results were noted in preterm neonates [36.7 (0.25) °C vs 36.5 (0.29) °C; P<0.001] at time 15 minutes. The number of hypothermia episodes was more in the control group than in the study group during most of the transport time [7.6% vs 43.2%; P<0.001] at time 15 minutes.

Conclusions

Low birth weight neonates receiving KMC showed optimal thermoregulation, whereas a high incidence of moderate hypothermia was seen among neonates receiving conventional care during transport.

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Acknowledgements

Ajay G Phatak for help in analysis of the study data.

Funding

This study supports the idea of using KMC as an important tool in preventing hypothermia during transport of neonates, especially low birth weight neonates.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Gujarat, 388 325, India

    Somashekhar Nimbalkar, Reshma Pujara & Dipen Patel

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Gujarat, India

    Vedant Popat & Purvi Patel

  3. Central Research Service, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Gujarat, India

    Mayur Shinde

Authors
  1. Somashekhar Nimbalkar
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  2. Vedant Popat
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  3. Purvi Patel
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  4. Reshma Pujara
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  5. Mayur Shinde
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  6. Dipen Patel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Somashekhar Nimbalkar.

Additional information

Ethics clearance

Institutional Human Research Ethics Committee — 2, Pramukhswami Medical College; No. IEC/HMPCMEE/123/Faculty/5/249/20, dated Sep 9, 2020.

Contributors

SMN: conceptualized and designed the study, coordinated and supervised data collection, and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; PP, DP, RP: have coordinated the study and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; VP; carried out the study, collected data, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript; MKS: carried out the initial analyses, helped draft the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Funding

None

Competing interests

None stated.

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Nimbalkar, S., Popat, V., Patel, P. et al. Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care Transport in Preventing Moderate Hypothermia in Low Birth Weight Babies During Transportion to Home After Discharge: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Indian Pediatr 60, 272–276 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-2857-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-2857-1

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