Objective: To evaluate the results of the Kangaroo Mother Program in Costa Rica since its beginning in 1993.

Setting: Instituto Materno Infantil Dr. Adolfo Carit, San José de Costa Rica.

Type of study: Retrospective and descriptive study.

180 health babies were enrolled in this study.

Weight was lesser than 37 weeks of gestation age who were recruited from1993 though 1996 and completed a 2- year follow- up period.

Four percent of the patients in the analysis weighed less than 1.000grams while 29% between 1.000 and 1.500 grams. The overage age admission was 17 days (range 0-45 days). Average gestational age was 33 weeks (range 29-37 weeks).

Overall daily weight gain was 25 grams (range 10-60grams). The achievement of 2.000 grams was reached in 15 days (range 1-45 days). 88% of the patients normal results for the Guessell’s Psychomotor Development Test. 165 ( 91,6%) of the patients underwent examination of the retina. Only 3% showed residual retinopathy. Only 5 (4%) of the 148 patients who had Brain Sonograms showed impairments at the of the 2 year follow-up period.