A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF KANGAROO MOTHER CARE ON BEHAVIOURAL PARAMETERS OF THE PRETERM BABIES AT SELECTED HOSPITALS, TAMILNADU.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study are to assess the behavioural parameters of the preterm babies in the experimental and the control group before the intervention , to evaluate the effectiveness of Kangaroo mother care on behavioural parameters of the preterm babies in the experimental group and to associate between the behavioural parameters and clinical variables of the pre-term babies in the experimental group.

METHOD: Quantitative research approach and quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used in the study. Preterm babies admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Raja Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Chidambaram and Raja Sir Savalai Ramasamy Mudaliar Hospital, Royapuram, Chennai, who met with the inclusion criteria were selected as sample.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The study results inferred that the behavioural parameters of the preterm babies in the experimental group who received Kangaroo mother care had significantly improved physiological parameters than the preterm in the control group. The result showed that there was a significant association between the behavioural parameters gain score and the gestational weeks (t=3.14, p<0.01) and birth weight (F=4.55, p<0.02) of the preterm babies in the experimental group.

CONCLUSIONS: The study results concluded that kangaroo mother care was highly significant in improving the behavioural parameters of the preterm babies (p<0.0001).The KMC was an effective and economical care to LBW babies.