KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS KANGAROO MOTHER CARE AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN A TERTIARY CARE SETTING
Keywords:
Kangaroo Mother Care, knowledge, attitude, practice, healthcare workers, neonatal care, Pakistan.Abstract
Background: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a simple, low-cost, evidence-based intervention that improves survival and health outcomes among preterm and low-birth-weight infants. Despite its proven effectiveness, KMC implementation remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, where neonatal mortality remains high. Healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) are essential to successfully integrating KMC into routine neonatal care.
Objective: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Kangaroo Mother Care among healthcare workers in a tertiary care setting in Hyderabad, Pakistan.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to March 2026 at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad/Jamshoro. A total of 200 healthcare workers were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26.0. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among 200 healthcare workers, 67.0% were female, 50.0% were nurses, and 65.0% had not received formal KMC training. Good knowledge was observed in 22.0% of participants, while 65.0% had moderate knowledge. Positive attitudes toward KMC were reported by 54.0%; however, only 9.0% demonstrated good KMC practice. Formal KMC training was significantly associated with better knowledge (p<0.001), and higher knowledge was associated with improved practice (p<0.001). The main barriers to KMC implementation were high workload (74.5%), lack of institutional guidelines (47.5%), safety concerns (45.0%), and inadequate dedicated space (42.5%).
Conclusion: Healthcare workers had moderate knowledge and positive attitudes toward KMC, but practice remained inadequate. Strengthening competency-based training, standardized protocols, and institutional support is essential to improve routine KMC implementation and neonatal outcomes.
