Kangaroo Care for Premature Birth
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores ways to help mothers perform Kangaroo Care at home for babies born prematurely or with low birth weight in rural India. Kangaroo Care involves holding the baby skin-to-skin, which can enhance bonding and health. The study tests various combinations of support and guidance to determine the most effective approach. Mothers living near Shree Krishna Hospital, with a low birth weight baby, and who speak Gujarati may be suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity for mothers to contribute to research that could improve care practices for vulnerable infants.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.
What prior data suggests that Kangaroo Care is safe for preterm or low birth weight infants?
Research has shown that Kangaroo Care, which involves holding preterm or low birth weight babies skin-to-skin, is generally safe. Studies have found that it can significantly lower the risk of death in these infants. Specifically, a Cochrane review discovered that Kangaroo Care reduced the risk of death in low birth weight babies compared to traditional care.
This method is also associated with positive outcomes, such as better oxygen levels, improved body temperature control, and enhanced brain development. These findings suggest that Kangaroo Care is well-tolerated and beneficial for newborns, making it a promising choice for families with preterm or low birth weight babies.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Kangaroo Care is unique because it emphasizes skin-to-skin contact between parents and their premature babies, which is a shift from the more conventional incubator-based care. Unlike standard treatments that might rely heavily on medical devices, Kangaroo Care aims to enhance bonding and parental involvement, which can improve both physical and emotional outcomes for the baby. Researchers are excited about this approach because it could lead to better temperature regulation, enhanced breastfeeding, and overall improved development in premature infants, all in a more natural and nurturing way.
What evidence suggests that Kangaroo Care is effective for premature birth?
Research has shown that Kangaroo Care, or skin-to-skin contact, greatly benefits premature and low birth weight babies. Studies indicate it can reduce newborn deaths by over 30% and lower the risk of dangerously low body temperature by nearly 70%. This care also aids in the development of better brain and movement skills. Babies receiving Kangaroo Care often grow better, have higher oxygen levels, and maintain stable body temperatures. Overall, Kangaroo Care provides significant health benefits for these vulnerable infants.56789
Who Is on the Research Team?
Nisha Fahey, DO, MSc
Principal Investigator
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for mothers in rural India with preterm or low birthweight infants who have been discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention Development
Refinement of candidate interventions to overcome barriers to community-based Kangaroo Care
Pilot Testing
Pilot individual candidate interventions to assess implementation outcomes
Optimization Trial
Conduct a MOST design-based optimization trial to develop a community-informed, multicomponent intervention
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for uptake and adherence to community-based Kangaroo Care
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Kangaroo Care
Trial Overview
The study focuses on behavioral interventions to promote Kangaroo Care, which involves skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant to support the baby's development.
How Is the Trial Designed?
8
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Massachusetts, Worcester
Lead Sponsor
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Collaborator
Citations
Kangaroo Mother Care and Neonatal Outcomes: A Meta- ...
Newborns receiving KMC had lower mean respiratory rate and pain measures, and higher oxygen saturation, temperature, and head circumference growth. LIMITATIONS:.
WHO promotes lifesaving intervention for small and ...
Among other positive impacts, it is associated with a more than 30% reduction in newborn deaths, a close to 70% reduction in hypothermia and a ...
Skin-to-skin 'kangaroo care' found to boost ...
Babies born very early had stronger neurodevelopmental performance at 1 year if they received more skin-to-skin care as newborns, a Stanford Medicine study ...
Kangaroo care practice outcome of mothers with premature ...
The results showed that kangaroo care status, gestational age, birth weight, and length of hospitalization affected their MAI scores significantly. These ...
Kangaroo mother care for preterm or low birth weight infants
KMC initiated within 24 hours of birth reduces neonatal mortality and may reduce clinical sepsis until 28 days compared with later initiation. How this study ...
Kangaroo mother care for preterm or low birth weight infants
The Cochrane review (2016) on kangaroo mother care (KMC) demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of mortality in low birth weight infants.
Immediate “Kangaroo Mother Care” and Survival of Infants ...
Approximately 45% of neonatal deaths occur within 24 hours after birth and 80% during the first week of life; thus, the majority of deaths among ...
All-cause mortality and infection-related outcomes of ...
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed the mortality risk reduction with kangaroo care compared with conventional care in low-birthweight or ...
9.
news.cornell.edu
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/09/skin-skin-contact-associated-brain-changes-preterm-infantsSkin-to-skin contact associated with brain changes in preterm ...
“Kangaroo care,” or skin-to-skin contact, may be neuroprotective and is associated with neonatal development in areas of the brain involved ...
Unbiased Results
We believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your Data
We only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials Only
All of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.