Volume 22 Issue 3

Implementation of Home-Based KMC During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Through a Quality-Improvement Initiative

Santosh Kumar Panda, Swarnalata Das, Manas Kumar Nayak, Soumini Rath, Nikhitha Polakampalli, Sagarika Mishra

Abstract

Aim: To implement postdischarge home-based kangaroo mother care (KMC) for low-birth-weight neonates during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic through a quality-improvement (QI) initiative

Materials and Methods: Neonates with a discharge weight of < 1800 g and their mothers were enrolled. The potential barriers for home-based KMC during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were evaluated using fishbone analysis, and a variety of measures were introduced in multiple Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles. Neonatal and maternal characteristics at the baseline and the implementation phases were compared using the Fisher’s exact test and unpaired t test. Data on implementation of home-based KMC and its duration (h/d) were analyzed using line charts or run charts.

Results: A total of 29 eligible mother–neonate dyads were studied; the mean ± SD of the discharge weight and postmenstrual age of neonates was 1747 ± 187 g and 34.49 ± 2.07 weeks, respectively. After the implementation of 2 PDSA cycles, the percentage of home-based KMC increased from 37.5% (baseline) to 72.7%, and the median duration of KMC increased from 3 to 7 hours per day.

Conclusion: Thorough evaluation of problems and proper QI measures helped in successfully implementing home-based KMC for the benefit of low-birth-weight neonates during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

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