Maternal and Neonatal Criteria for Kangaroo Mother Care: The Perspective of the Midwife in the West Mamprusi District of North-East Region, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is the Skin-to-Skin (SCC) between mothers and their newborns that encourages adequate breastfeeding, early discharge from the health facility, and reduction of neonatal deaths. It benefits all babies and more especially those who are born preterm and with low birth weight.   KMC is especially relevant in low-income and less-resourced settings. This study was conducted in the West Mamprusi District of the North-East Region of Ghana. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the maternal and neonatal criteria necessary for the practice of Kangaroo mother care in the West Mamprusi District from the perspective of the professional and practicing midwives.  Methodology: The design for this study was a qualitative cross-sectional explorative one. This was necessary because it sought to explore both Maternal and Neonatal criteria used for mothers and babies for the practice of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) by gathering primary data.  Participants for the study were professional midwives practicing in the West Mamprusi District of the North-East Region. Inclusion criteria were any health professional with certification to practice midwifery in the district. A semi-Structured interview guide was used to collect primary qualitative data from the participating midwives.  These interviews were tape-recorded with their permission and informed consent. The researchers reached data saturation at the fourteenth (14th) participant. Recordings from them were transcribed and the Thematic Analysis technique was used to analyze the data.  Results: The study revealed that both mother and neonate need to meet certain criteria for the effective practice of Kangaroo Mother Care. Mothers must meet certain health parameters including recovering from birth-related surgeries and be willing to practice KMC. The babies on the other hand will need to meet the right weight, right gestational age, and must be healthy to undergo the procedure.   Conclusions: The mother and neonate are very fundamental in the practice of KMC.  Very fundamental to the extent that they must meet obstetric, health, and physical criteria for the effective practice of KMC