Children (Oct 2022)

Kangaroo Mother Care in Vietnam: A National Survey of a Middle-Income Country

  • Francesco Cavallin,
  • Daniele Trevisanuto,
  • Tran Viet Tiep,
  • Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep,
  • Vuong Thi Hao,
  • Doan Thi Ngan,
  • Nguyen Thi Thuy,
  • Nguyen Thi Xuan Hoi,
  • Luciano Moccia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/children9111667
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 11
p. 1667

Abstract

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Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a low-cost intervention that is indicated to be a highly effective practice for which adoption and implementation are lacking. We investigated the current provision of KMC in Vietnam and explored differences among levels of healthcare facility. Methods: A survey form was sent to 187 hospitals in Vietnam, representing the three levels (central, provincial and district) of public hospital-based maternity services. Results: Overall response rate was 74% (138/187 hospitals). Routine KMC implementation was estimated in 49% of the hospitals. Where KMC was implemented or was being introduced, half of the hospitals had a written protocol and a KMC-dedicated room, and held educational courses on KMC. KMC was mainly performed by the mother. Skin-to-skin contact was mostly performed for <12 h/day (55%), exclusive breastfeeding at discharge was very frequent (89%) and early discharge was considered in half of the hospitals (54%), while follow-up was not performed in 29% of the hospitals. Participants considered follow-up after discharge as the main barrier to KMC implementation, and indicated education (of both parents and health caregivers) and environment upgrades (KMC-dedicated room and equipment) as the most important facilitators. Conclusions: Our survey estimated a limited implementation of KMC in Vietnamese maternity hospitals, with marked variations across the different levels of maternity services. Areas of improvements include increasing the duration of skin-to-skin contact, arranging dedicated spaces for KMC, involving the relatives (especially at district level), extending the availability of a written protocol, improving the eligibility process, and implementing early discharge and follow-up monitoring.

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