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.

BACKGROUND

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

OBJECTIVES

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.