Title:" KM Method: implications related to breastfeeding and development of LBW babies"
M.Ferreira Rea, T.Toma, SR.Siqueira,LE.Batista,BL.Silvestrini y A.Cattaneo (Brasil, Italia)
Objective: The objective of this study was to implement Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in a São Paulo maternity hospital and to analyse the effect of this intervention on breastfeeding and morbidity in a sample of low birth weight infant (LBWI).
Methodology: Two groups were followed up from birth to 4 months of age: 32 low birth weight infant were born before the intervention and managed with conventional care and 29 were managed afterwards with Kangaroo Mother Care.
Results: The type of Kangaroo Mother Care showed to be feasible in this tertiary level hospital was mother/infant pairs managed as inpatients and starting Kangaroo Mother Care late, when the infant is clinically stable, without Kangaroo Mother Care after discharge. Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding were variables associated with reduced morbidity at four months (p<0.005), in the logistic regression analysis. Breastfeeding at discharge, when compared to artificial feeding, was associated with a 72% reduction in morbidity during the 4 months of follow-up.
Conclusion: We conclude that Kangaroo Mother Care is feasible in a city like São Paulo and provides benefits for low birth weght infant in terms of morbidity by encouraging optimal breastfeeding pattern.