Kangaroo Mother Care Transport Prevents Moderate Hypothermia in Low Birth Weight Babies during Transportation to Home Following Discharge

There exists negligence while Transporting neonates, which results in high mortality of neonates during transport. 

The present study determined the effectiveness of kangaroo mother care (KMC) regarding hypothermia prevention during transport from hospital to home for low birth weight neonates.

This Randomized controlled trial enrolled 152 low birth weight neonates who received a discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit between March 2021 and August 2022.

Neonates in the study group (n=76) received KMC from the hospital to home, while the control group (n=76) did not receive KMC during transport. The study recorded Axillary temperature in both groups at the time of discharge, every 5 minutes during transport, and upon reaching home. It compared Hypothermia episodes between the two groups.

The study observed-

• Primary endpoint as moderate hypothermia. 
• 30.3% of neonates experienced moderate hypothermia during transport in the control group.
• Significantly higher mean (SD) temperature in the study group than in the control group from 10 minutes of transport till the neonates reached home.
• The results were similar during 15 minutes time period.
• More hypothermia episodes during most of the transport time at 15 minutes in the control group than in the study group. 

This study shows that low birth weight neonates receiving KMC show optimal thermoregulation than those receiving conventional care during transport. Hence KMC should be advised in Low Birth Weight Babies During Transportation to Home After Discharge.

Nimbalkar S, Popat V, Patel P. et al. 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. Indian Pediatrics. 2023;60.