OK, so International Kangaroo awareness day was yesterday, but even though I'm a day late, this really deserves highlighting. Out of all the interventions studies in neonates, this is one with overwhelming evidence of benefit on just about any outcome you chose to examine - both for the mother and the baby, and obviously breast feeding success. If you want to make nutrition better for babies, you need to promote breast-feeding and KMC is without doubt one of the cheapest and most-effective things to do.
How does it work? I've appended 5 key papers over the last few years that have added to our knowledge, and also emphasize the importance of this intervention in more resource-poor settings.
How does it work? I've appended 5 key papers over the last few years that have added to our knowledge, and also emphasize the importance of this intervention in more resource-poor settings.
- Lawn, J.E., Mwansa-Kambafwile, J., Horta, B.L., Barros, F.C., Cousens, S. Kangaroo mother care' to prevent neonatal deaths due to preterm birth complications (2010) International Journal of Epidemiology, 39 (SUPPL. 1), pp. i144-i154.
- Barros, F.C., Bhutta, Z.A., Batra, M., Hansen, T.N., Victora, C.G., Rubens, C.E. Global report on preterm birth and stillbirth (3 of 7): Evidence for effectiveness of interventions (2010) BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 10 (SUPPL. 1), art. no. S3,
- Feldman, R., Eidelman, A.I. Skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo Care) accelerates autonomic and neurobehavioural maturation in preterm infants (2003) Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 45 (4), pp. 274-281.
- Furman, L., Minich, N., Hack, M. Correlates of lactation in mothers of very low birth weight infants (2002) Pediatrics, 109 (4)
- Charpak, N., Ruiz-Peláez, J.G., Figueroa De C, Z., Charpak, Y. Kangaroo mother versus traditional care for newborn infants ≤2000 grams: A randomized, controlled trial (1997) Pediatrics, 100 (4), pp. 682-688.
Thanks for the photo Louiza!
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