Effect of Community-Initiated Kangaroo Mother Care on Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Stress Among Mothers of Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Key Points Question Does the practice of community-initiated kangaroo mother care (ciKMC), an intervention encompassing skin-to-skin-contact and exclusive breastfeeding, during the neonatal period reduce the risk of moderate-to-severe postpartum depressive symptoms among mothers of low-birth-weight (LBW) infants? Findings In a randomized clinical trial that included 1950 mothers of stable LBW infants from low-income areas in India, the practice of ciKMC resulted in a 25% reduction in the relative risk of moderate-to-severe depression at 4 weeks after delivery. The analysis estimated that supporting 36 mothers to perform KMC at home would prevent 1 mother from experiencing moderate-to-severe postpartum depressive symptoms. Meaning These findings suggest that ciKMC can have substantial benefits for maternal mental health, beyond improving the survival of LBW infants.