Kangaroo mother care in low-income countries
Cattaneo, A.; Davanzo, R.; Bergman, N.; Charpak, N.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 44(5): 279-282
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0142-6338 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/44.5.279Document Number: 278378
It is argued that many of the almost five million neonatal deaths occurring annually in low-income countries could be prevented by appropriate, good quality care of low birthweight infants (LBWI). The paper proposes that a method to achieve this is through Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), which is defined as early, prolonged, and continuous skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the LBWI, both in hospital and after discharge, with exclusive breastfeeding and proper follow-up. The paper examines: general newborn care; first-level facilities in countries with very limited resources; second and third level hospitals in countries with limited resources; implementation of KMC; and requirements of KMC.