EFFECT OF KANGAROO MOTHER CARE ON HOSPITAL OUTCOME IN LOW BIRTH WEIGHT

Kangaroo Mother Care is a novel intervention known to improve survival, nutrition and prevent infections. Kangaroo Mother Care encompasses prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby and exclusive breastfeeding till the end of neonatal period or until the baby wriggles out, whichever is earlier.Studies have shown that kangaroo mother care has benefits for infants and mothers, including reduction in infant mortality rate, maintenance of the neonate's temperature and promoting breastfeeding. Kangaroo mother care also improves the infant's respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, weight gain, sleeping condition and physical growth. It has a positive effect on physical growth and motor development of newborns. Kangaroo mother care decreases the neonates need for phototherapy and repeated admission for neonatal jaundice in low birth weight infants. The objective of study is to compare the outcome with and without kangaroo mother care in neonates with low birth weight.