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Earlier versus later continuous Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for stable low‐birth‐weight infants: a randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Nagai S,
Andrianarimanana D,
Rabesandrata,
Yonemoto N,
Nakayama T,
Mori R
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01676.x
Subject(s) - medicine , low birth weight , randomized controlled trial , pediatrics , birth weight , incidence (geometry) , referral , surgery , pregnancy , family medicine , genetics , physics , optics , biology
Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of earlier continuous Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for relatively stable low‐birth‐weight (LBW) infants in a resource‐limited country. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed in LBW infants at a referral hospital in Madagascar. Earlier continuous KMC (intervention) was begun as soon as possible, within 24 h postbirth, and later continuous KMC (control: conventional care) was begun after complete stabilization (generally after 24 h postbirth). Main outcome measure was mortality during the first 28 days postbirth. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00531492. Results: A total of 73 infants (intervention 37, control 36) were included. Earlier continuous KMC had higher but no statistically different mortality in the first 28 days postbirth (1 vs. 2; risk ratio, 1.95; 95% CIs, 0.18–20.53; p = 1.00). There were no differences in incidence of morbidities. Body weight loss from birth to 24 h postbirth was significantly less in earlier KMC infants compared with later KMC infants. (−34.81 g vs. −73.97 g; mean difference, 39.16 g; 95% CIs, 10.30–68.03; p = 0.01; adjusted p = 0.02). Adverse events and duration of hospitalization were not different between the two groups. Conclusions: Further evaluations of earlier continuous KMC including measurement of KMC dose, are needed in resource‐limited countries.