DefinePK

Research Objective

To compare kangaroo mother care with conventional care in newborns regarding the frequency of successful first breastfeeding and time to initiate breastfeeding.

Methodology

Quasi-experimental study conducted at Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Combined Military Hospital Bahawalpur, from February 2019 to June 2020. 120 infant-mother couples were randomly allocated into two groups: Group A (Kangaroo Mother Care - KMC) and Group B (Conventional Care - CC). Inclusion criteria were healthy term infants (>37 weeks gestation, birth weight >2500 grams) requiring no resuscitation except oro-pharyngeal suctioning. Exclusion criteria included congenital abnormalities, sepsis, birth asphyxia, respiratory distress, meconium aspiration, maternal medical conditions preventing breastfeeding, and Cesarean section deliveries. The frequency of successful first breastfeeding was assessed using the Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT), with a score of 8 or more considered successful. The time taken to initiate breastfeeding was also documented. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, with chi-square and t-tests for comparisons and a p-value of 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Recruit 120 Infant-Mother Couples"] --> B["Random Allocation"];
    B --> C["Group A: Kangaroo Mother Care KMC"];
    B --> D["Group B: Conventional Care CC"];
    C --> E["Assess First Breastfeeding Success IBFAT"];
    D --> E;
    C --> F["Document Time to Initiate Breastfeeding"];
    D --> F;
    E --> G["Analyze Frequency of Successful Breastfeeding"];
    F --> H["Analyze Time to Initiate Breastfeeding"];
    G --> I["Compare Groups"];
    H --> I;
    I --> J["Draw Conclusions"];                    

Discussion

The study supports the benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in improving the success rate and reducing the time to initiate breastfeeding in newborns. KMC promotes early skin-to-skin contact, which is crucial for the "sensitive period" immediately after birth. The findings are consistent with previous research indicating that KMC enhances breastfeeding initiation and continuation. The discussion highlights the global importance of breastfeeding and the role of KMC as a cost-effective intervention, particularly in resource-limited settings. Challenges in implementing KMC can be overcome through training and support.

Key Findings

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) resulted in a statistically significant higher frequency of successful first breastfeeding (63.3% in KMC vs. 45% in Conventional Care, p=0.044). The mean time to initiate the first successful breastfeeding was significantly less in the KMC group (30.24 ± 7.98 min) compared to the conventional care group (54.15 ± 10.52 min, p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, or gender distribution between the two groups.

Conclusion

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an effective practice for initiating breastfeeding, leading to a higher success rate and reduced initiation time compared to conventional care. Its adoption in the community can improve breastfeeding practices and potentially reduce the burden on healthcare resources.

Fact Check

* Sample Size: 120 infant-mother couples were included in the study, with 60 allocated to each group.
* Successful First Breastfeeding Rate (KMC): 63.3% of infants in the KMC group had successful first breastfeeding.
* Mean Time for First Successful Feed (Conventional Care): 54.15 ± 10.52 minutes.

Mind Map