KangaSlingPeer-Reviewed PublicationQuality Improvement Initiative
Improving The Duration of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Using a KMC Sling Bag: A Quality Improvement Initiative in a Tertiary Neonatal Unit
Year
2024
Location
🇮🇳 Hoskote, Bangalore, India
Sample Size
100 mother-infant dyads
Investigators
Kavitha Lakshmi S, Jagadish AS, Premalatha R, Ravichander B
Institutions
Dept of Paediatrics, MVJ Medical College & Research Hospital, Hoskote, Bangalore
Published In
Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences
Background & Methods
A quality improvement initiative at MVJ Medical College & Research Hospital, Hoskote, Bangalore, to assess whether introducing a KMC sling bag (KangaSling) could increase the daily duration of kangaroo mother care in a tertiary neonatal unit. 100 mother-infant dyads participated in a structured improvement cycle. Baseline KMC duration was measured, the KangaSling was introduced, and KMC duration was tracked through the improvement cycle.
Key Results
| Outcome / Metric | BEMPU Group | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| KMC duration — baseline (hrs/day) | 3 | — |
| KMC duration — after KangaSling introduction (hrs/day) | 9 | — |
- 1KMC duration increased threefold from a baseline of 3 hrs/day to 9 hrs/day following introduction of the KangaSling.
- 2The improvement was sustained over the follow-up period, indicating the sling produced durable behavioral change.
- 3Nurses and mothers reported that the sling's ergonomic design and hands-free functionality were key factors in enabling longer KMC sessions.
- 4The initiative confirmed that equipment-based interventions can overcome compliance barriers to WHO-recommended KMC.
Why This Matters
WHO recommends a minimum of 8 hours of KMC daily for premature infants, but compliance at 3 hrs/day baseline in this study reflects a common gap. The threefold improvement to 9 hrs/day after introducing the KangaSling demonstrates that ergonomic support tools are clinically impactful — bridging the gap between guidelines and practice.
How to Cite
Lakshmi KS, Jagadish AS, Premalatha R, Ravichander B. Improving the duration of kangaroo mother care (KMC) using a KMC sling bag: a quality improvement initiative in a tertiary neonatal unit. Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences. 2024.