Comparison of Outcomes of Early Kangaroo Mother Care and Standard Method Care in Healthy Low Birth Weight Preterm Neonates at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Preterm birth remains the leading cause of mortality among children under five years of age worldwide. Each year approximately 15 million infants are born prematurely, accounting for more than one in ten births globally. Complications related to prematurity contribute substantially to neonatal mortality and long-term morbidity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Pakistan has one of the highest reported rates of preterm birth globally, highlighting the urgent need for effective, low-cost neonatal care strategies.

Low birth weight (LBW) preterm infants are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia, infection, feeding difficulties, and other complications due to physiologic immaturity. Conventional neonatal care for these infants often relies on incubators, radiant warmers, and specialized monitoring, which may be resource-intensive and difficult to sustain in high-volume public hospitals in low-resource settings.

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a cost-effective and evidence-based intervention designed to improve outcomes for preterm and LBW infants. The intervention consists primarily of continuous or intermittent skin-to-skin contact between the caregiver and infant, promotion of exclusive breastfeeding or breast-milk feeding, early discharge when clinically appropriate, and structured follow-up. Skin-to-skin contact helps maintain thermal stability, enhances breastfeeding success, and strengthens maternal-infant bonding. Previous studies and systematic reviews have demonstrated that KMC can reduce neonatal mortality, improve breastfeeding rates, and decrease the risk of severe infection and hypothermia in LBW infants.

Recent research has also explored the potential benefits of early initiation of KMC, including initiation soon after birth rather than after stabilization. The World Health Organization Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care study evaluated continuous KMC initiated shortly after birth in infants with birth weights between 1.0 and 1.799 kg and suggested potential survival benefits. However, further evidence is needed to determine the effectiveness of early KMC initiation in relatively stable LBW infants in routine clinical settings, particularly in low-resource environments.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of early initiation of kangaroo mother care within the first 24 hours after birth compared with standard neonatal care practices in healthy low birth weight preterm infants. Participants randomized to the intervention arm will receive structured early KMC with caregiver skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support according to institutional protocols. Infants in the control group will receive standard neonatal care as practiced in the neonatal unit.

The study will be conducted at the neonatal care facilities of Services Hospital Lahore. By comparing early KMC with standard care, the trial aims to generate evidence regarding the feasibility and clinical impact of early KMC initiation in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Findings from this study may contribute to strengthening neonatal care policies and support wider implementation of KMC programs in similar healthcare settings.

Inclusion criteria

• New admission of singleton or twin (inborn or out-born)
• Weight < 2000 g (as per study scale)
• Age 1-24 h old when screening begins
• Gestational age >30 weeks to <37 weeks
• Mother or other caregiver available and willing to provide intervention

Exclusion criteria

• Triplets who are all admitted to the study site
• Congenital malformation not compatible with life or needing immediate surgical intervention
• Severe jaundice
• Seizures
• Stable as assessed during cardio-respiratory screening
• Severely unstable as assessed during cardio-respiratory screening or died during screening
• Severe perinatal asphyxia
• Babies require a ventilator or inotropic support
• The mother is critically ill or unable to comply with the follow-up schedule
• No study bed available
• Neonates/mothers enrolled in another research study
• No written informed consent from parent or caregiver within 24 h of admission.