Advantages of kangaroo mother care in less than 2000 grams low birth weight neonates

Background: The aim of study was to compare the effect of Kangaroo mother care (KMC) and conventional methods of care (CMC) in low birth weight babies less than 2000 grams. Method: One hundred babies with birth weight less than 2000 grams and without clinical problem were randomized in two groups; the intervention group (N=50) who received Kangaroo mother care and the control group (N=50) with conventional care. Two groups were compared in daily weight gaining, self confidence of mother, duration of hospitalization, clinical cyanosis and nosocomial infection. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software. Irct ID: IRCT201101091162N16. Results: The KMC babies had better daily weight gaining average [18.31±7.57gm vs. 4.8±16.57gm (P< 0.001)] CMC: and also, self confidence of mother in KMC group was significantly higher than CMC group (p<0.001). A significantly longer duration of hospitalization observed in CMC group [27.18±12.07 day vs. 16.24±10.04 day (P<0.001)]. There was no significant difference between the two groups for clinical cyanosis and nosocomial infection (both P>0.05). Conclusions: In this study Kangaroo mother care had better effect on daily weight gaining, mother confidence and shorter duration of hospitalization.