Evaluation of Utilization of Kangaroo Mother Care in Neonatal Transport by Health Care Workers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Inter-facility transfer of small and sick neonates in Kangaroo mother care (KMC) in position provides additional benefits against the common challenges of neonatal transport in resource-constrained settings including hypothermia, cardio-respiratory instability and adverse vibrational forces. Implementation and coverage of KMC across nations, regions and globally appear sub-optimal and the practice of KMC transport remains to be determined as most available studies on KMC in Nigeria had focused on awareness, Attitude and acceptance by mothers.

Objective/ Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was assessed the utilization of KMC in neonatal transport by 28 health facilities in Port Harcourt Metropolis, South-South Nigeria.

Results: Among the 3 cadres of HCWs Medical officers were in the majority (50%). All cadres of health care workers (HCWs) possess tertiary education. None (0 %) of the HCWs had any formal training in neonatal transport. No HCW (0 %) reported transferring or receiving any neonate in KMC position. The commonest method of provision of warmth for transferred neonates was by wrapping them in ‘Wrapper’ (a piece of cloth).

Conclusion: The non-utilization of KMC by HCWs in this study has far reaching implications on outcome for transferred neonates who are deprived of the huge benefits of KMC during the precarious inter-facility transfer. There is an urgent need for training of HCWs on the benefits and practice of KMC as a safe and cost-effective mode of neonatal transport.