Research from Stanford University has revealed disparities in the provision of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)—a simple, low-cost intervention known to improve outcomes for preterm and low birth weight infants. Despite its proven benefits, the study found that infants born to families from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or non-English speaking households are significantly less likely to receive KMC than their peers.
The study, involving 116 infants born before 32 weeks’ gestation, examined KMC rates, frequency, and duration in a Level III NICU. Even after adjusting for key factors like gestational age and parental visitation rates, the findings remained stark:
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Infants of higher-SES families received nearly twice as much KMC
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English-speaking parents were significantly more likely to provide KMC than non-English speaking parents
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Disparities extended to both how often KMC was practiced and how long each session lasted
Kangaroo Mother Care is backed by substantial evidence. It supports cardiorespiratory stability, promotes thermoregulation, enhances breastfeeding rates, and is linked to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes. It is a powerful, human-centred intervention that can be delivered with minimal resources.
SurePulse:
SurePulse recognises the importance of Kangaroo Mother Care for all babies, including for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or non-English speaking households ; Our vision is a world where baby-centred innovation transforms neonatal outcomes.
Wireless monitoring of the baby is believed likely to increase rates of KMC by making it easy for staff to facilitate KMC, and to improve the quality and duration of KMC delivered in terms of comfort, to reduce the need to disturb the baby to adjust sensors, and which subsequently will improve bonding of parent and baby (Bonner et al, 2017). This enhanced bonding of parent and baby will help breast milk production.
The SurePulse VS is SurePulse’s first device approved in the US, UK and EU for clinical use, and comprises a thermo-protective single-use cap that provides clinical teams with wireless, continuous and accurate heart rate information.
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