Background ‘Kangaroo mother care’ (KMC) includes thermal care through continuousskin-to-skin contact, support for exclusive breastfeeding orother appropriate feeding, and early recognition/response to illness.Whilst increasingly accepted in both high- and low-income countries,a Cochrane review (2003) did not find evidence of KMC’smortality benefit, and did not report neonatal-specific data.Objectives The objectives of this study were to review the evidence, and estimatethe effect of KMC on neonatal mortality due to complicationsof preterm birth.Methods We conducted systematic reviews. Standardized abstraction tableswere used and study quality assessed by adapted GRADE methodology.Meta-analyses were undertaken.Results We identified 15 studies reporting mortality and/or morbidityoutcomes including nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) andsix observational studies all from low- or middle-income settings.Except one, all were hospital-based and included only babies ofbirth-weight <2000 g (assumed preterm). The one communitybasedtrial had missing birthweight data, as well as other limitationsand was excluded. Neonatal-specific data were supplied bytwo authors. Meta-analysis of three RCTs commencing KMC inthe first week of life showed a significant reduction in neonatalmortality [relative risk (RR) 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI)0.29–0.82] compared with standard care. A meta-analysis of threeobservational studies also suggested significant mortality benefit
(RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.58–0.79). Five RCTs suggested significant reductions
in serious morbidity for babies <2000 g (RR 0.34, 95% CI
0.17–0.65).
Conclusion This is the first published meta-analysis showing that KMC
substantially reduces neonatal mortality amongst preterm babies
(birth weight <2000 g) in hospital, and is highly effective in reducing
severe morbidity, particularly from infection. However, KMC
remains unavailable at-scale in most low-income countries.
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