Abstract:
Background: Preterm and Low birth weight infants have a 15 times higher risk of death than
those born term and appropriate for gestational age. In Ethiopia, neonatal mortality is
unacceptably high with 33 deaths per 1,000 live births of which preterm related complication is
among the leading of causes of mortality. One of the key interventions of preventing deaths
among low birth weight newborns include kangaroo mother care. However, the implementation
of kangaroo mother care is not satisfactory to achieve the highest attainable standard of health
and well-being for all mothers and newborns.
Objectives: To assess Knowledge, Practices and associated factors of kangaroo mother care
among health professionals working in maternity ward at hospitals of South West Shoa Zone,
Oromia, South West Ethiopia, 2024.
Methods: Facility based Cross sectional study was conducted among 300 health professionals in
six hospitals of South West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, from March 01- 30, 2024. The study
participants were selected using simple random sampling method. Data was collected using
pretested self- administered questionnaire for knowledge and associated risk factors related
questions and interview administered questionnaire for practice related questions. The collected
data coded and entered in to SPSS version 26. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was
done for candidate variables with a cut-off of 0.25 p- value to determine factors associated with
kangaroo mother care and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CIs were computed and
reported. Finally, p-value < 0.05 used to declare statistically significant variables in the final
model and the result presented by using texts, tables and figures.
Result: In this study, 300 health professionals were participated and gave a response rate of
99%. About 233(77.7%) (95% CI: 72.2%-82.8%) of health professionals have good knowledge
and about 206(68.7) (95% CI: 63.2%-74.0%) of health professionals have good practices of
kangaroo mother care. Health professionals who were midwifery five times and Medical doctors
8 times were more likely knowledgeable compared with nurse professionals. Professionals who
work more than 7-year’s were7 times more knowledgeable than those work less than 3-year’s
experiences. Health professionals those work in delivery ward were 9 times more likely have
good knowledge of in compared to those work in pediatric wards. Health professionals who were
midwifery were 5 times and Medical doctors were 13 times were more likely have good
practices compared with nurse professionals.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Majority of the healthcare professionals in our study have
heard of Kangaroo mother care and overall knowledge toward kangaroo mother care was found
satisfactory. However, the proportion of actual practice for the eligible newborn is low. To
improve kangaroo mother care implementation in hospitals, effective interventions are needed.
These should include training that incorporates kangaroo mother care content into the
nurse/midwife curriculum and extracurricular training. In addition, hiring experienced health
professionals, the provision of facilities that support kangaroo mother care should also be taken
into consideration.
