KANGAROO MOTHER CARE VS. CONVENTIONAL INCUBATOR CARE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON ENHANCING WEIGHT GAIN AND STRENGTHENING MATERNAL–INFANT BONDING IN PRETERM INFANTS

Abstract

weakened maternal–infant bonding due to prolonged hospitalization and separation from caregivers. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), involving continuous skin-to-skin contact and exclusive breastfeeding, has been shown to improve neonatal outcomes in various healthcare contexts.

Aim: The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of KMC and conventional incubator care on weight gain and maternal–infant bonding in preterm infants at Saidu Teaching Hospital, Swat.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the neonatal unit with a total accessible population of 250 preterm infants. A sample size of 152 was calculated using the OpenEpi calculator. Participants were purposively selected and assigned to KMC or incubator care based on clinical stability and maternal consent. Infants in the KMC group received at least six hours of daily skin-to-skin contact alongside exclusive breastfeeding. Weight gain was monitored daily for 14 days, and maternal–infant bonding was assessed using the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS). Data were analyzed in SPSS version 27 using independent t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Infants receiving KMC had significantly higher mean daily weight gain (18.6 ± 2.4 g) compared to incubator care (14.3 ± 2.8 g, p < 0.001). MPAS scores were also significantly greater in the KMC group, indicating stronger maternal–infant bonding (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: KMC was more effective than conventional incubator care in promoting both physical growth and emotional connection in preterm infants. Adoption of KMC is recommended as a routine neonatal care practice