Impact of Hypothermia Alert Device (BEMPU) and Wrap (KangaSling) on Parent Compliance to Kangaroo Care in Low Birth Weight Babies between 1.5–2.5 kg Compared to Conventional Kangaroo Mother Care: A Three-Arm Randomised Control Trial

WHO strongly recommends Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) as a part of routine care for newborns to improve preterm birth outcomes. Ideally KMC should be practised for 24 hours, but due to lack of compliance it is practised for only 2–10 hours a day. The utilisation of a traditional cloth wrap has certain disadvantages that impede appropriate adherence to KMC. The KangaSling is a sturdy, hands-free, comfortable sling that can help improve compliance to kangaroo care. BEMPU is a device that can pick up hypothermia early and can alert the mother to provide KMC, hence improving compliance. This study assesses parent compliance to KMC with the KangaSling and BEMPU device in low-birth-weight babies between 1.5–2.5 kg compared to conventional kangaroo mother care. This three-arm RCT was conducted in the NICU and KMC ward of KLEH Dr. Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital. Ninety newborns were divided into: Group A (KangaSling + BEMPU), Group B (BEMPU + conventional cloth wrap), and Group C (conventional cloth wrap only).