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.

BACKGROUND: Transport of neonates is often neglected, which results in high mortality of neonates during transport.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of kangaroo mother care (KMC) in terms of hypothermia prevention during transport from hospital to home for low birth weight neonates.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 152 low birth weight neonates being discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital between March, 2021 and August, 2022.

INTERVENTION: Neonates in the study group (n=76) received KMC during transport from the hospital to home, while the control group (n=76) did not receive KMC during transport. Axillary temperature was recorded in both groups at the time of discharge, every 5 minutes during transport, and on reaching home.

OUTCOMES: Hypothermia episodes in neonates while receiving KMC compared to neonates not receiving KMC.

RESULTS: Primary endpoint of the study was moderate hypothermia. During transport, 23 (30.3%) neonates in the control group experienced moderate hypothermia during transport, which was statistically significant [0% vs 30.3%; P<0.001]. From 10 minutes of transport till the neonates reached home, the mean (SD) temperature in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group [ 36.8 (0.23) °C vs 36.6 (0.3) °C; P<0.001] at time 15 minutes. Similar results were noted in preterm neonates [36.7 (0.25) °C vs 36.5 (0.29) °C; P<0.001] at time 15 minutes. The number of hypothermia episodes was more in the control group than in the study group during most of the transport time [7.6% vs 43.2%; P<0.001] at time 15 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS: Low birth weight neonates receiving KMC showed optimal thermoregulation, whereas a high incidence of moderate hypothermia was seen among neonates receiving conventional care during transport.