Skip Navigation



Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Advance Access published online on February 10, 2009
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, doi:10.1093/tropej/fmn116
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
55/4/244    most recent
fmn116v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Blencowe, H.
Right arrow Articles by Molyneux, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Blencowe, H.
Right arrow Articles by Molyneux, E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author [2009]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Safety, Effectiveness and Barriers to Follow-up Using an ‘Early Discharge’ Kangaroo Care Policy in a Resource Poor Setting

Hannah Blencowea, Marko Keraca,b and Elizabeth Molyneuxa

aCollege of Medicine of Malawi, Paediatric Department, P/Bag 360, Blantyre, Malawi
bCentre for International Health and Development, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH. UK

Correspondence: Hannah Blencowe. E-mail <hblencowe{at}gmail.com>.


  Abstract

Aim: To describe the outcomes of low-birth-weight babies using an ‘early discharge’ Kangaroo care policy and to identify barriers to their follow-up.

Methods: Prospective descriptive study of all 272 babies admitted to a Kangaroo Care Ward in Malawi from November 2003 to May 2004. Infants were discharged to outpatient care once weighing over 1300 g and gaining weight. Follow-up was carried out until 2500 g.

Results: Infants [201 of 272 (73.9%)] reached a weight >2500 g; 46 out of 272 (16.9%) died; outcome was unknown in 25 of 272 (9.2%). Outpatient mortality was higher amongst discharges weighing under 1500 g [RR = 2.41(1.25–4.63) P = 0.01]. Discharge below birth weight did not affect mortality [RR = 0.77(0.40–1.46) P = 0.42]. Barriers identified to seeking healthcare post-discharge included transport problems and late recognition of illness.

Conclusions: Early discharge is safe and feasible, but issues regarding access to healthcare need to be addressed. Future research is needed to determine how best high mortality can be reduced in specific subgroups: notably infants <1500 g.

Key Words: Kangaroo mother care • less-developed countries • low-birth-weight infant


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.