Kangaroo mother care in the community: practices in southern Rwanda

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend practicing KMC (Kangaroo Mother Care) continuously for weeks after discharge of preterm newborns. However, little is known about KMC practices in the community in Rwanda and other African countries.Therefore, this study sought to assess KMC practices in Southern Rwanda, primarily after hospitalization and identify barriers to KMC in the community.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with data collected through a survey among 124 caregivers of preterm infants and Community Health Workers. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS version 22 was used to analyze the data.

Results: Among all caregivers interviewed, 86.7% confirmed that they practiced KMC, both in the hospital (KABUTARE District Hospital) as well as after discharge, but there is a large variation in practice time and place. KMC is practiced more during daytime. Working in the fields and lack of support to the caregivers are reported most frequently as barriers to practice KMC in the community.

Conclusion: KMC-practice is still sub-optimal in Rwanda. Special attention should be directed towards KMCpractice at night and towards the reported obstacles of practicing KMC in the community, e.g. working in the field, lack of support and equipment, difficulties to sleep and health problems.

Keywords: Kangaroo Mother Care - Follow-up - Preterm infants – Rwanda