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Background <p>Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a cornerstone intervention in neonatal care, widely recognized for its capacity to reduce morbidity and mortality in vulnerable newborns. Its simplicity, low cost, and adaptability make it especially valuable in resource-limited settings, where conventional neonatal intensive care may not be feasible.</p> Aim <p>This study aimed to compare the effects of long-duration KMC (≥ 8&#xa0;h/day) and short-duration KMC (&lt; 8&#xa0;h/day) versus conventional care (i.e., routine incubator-based or standard neonatal care without structured skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support) on growth and breastfeeding outcomes in low-birth-weight (LBW) infants.</p> Methods <p>A systematic review was conducted, analyzing 10 randomized controlled trials involving 1,153 neonates, with data sourced from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE, covering studies published up to April 1, 2025.</p> Results <p>A total of 1,286 publications were initially identified, of which 10 randomized controlled trials (involving 1,153 neonates) met the inclusion criteria. For weight gain, both KMC durations improved daily gain (pooled MD = 4.52&#xa0;g/day, 95% CI: 1.90–7.14), with long-duration KMC showing a greater effect (MD = 5.04&#xa0;g/day, 95% CI: 0.98–9.10) compared to short-duration (MD = 3.71&#xa0;g/day, 95% CI: 1.55–5.87). In length gain, the weekly increase was similar for both durations (MD = 0.09&#xa0;cm/week, 95% CI: 0.06–0.12). For head circumference, short-duration KMC had a greater effect (MD = 0.07&#xa0;cm/week, 95% CI: 0.04–0.10) than long-duration (MD = 0.04&#xa0;cm/week, 95% CI: 0.01–0.07). Exclusive breastfeeding rates were higher with short-duration KMC (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.45–4.02) compared to long-duration (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.11–2.98).</p> Conclusion <p>This study demonstrates that both short- and long-duration KMC effectively improve growth and breastfeeding outcomes in LBW infants, albeit with differential advantages across endpoints. Short-duration KMC was more effective for optimizing length gain and exclusive breastfeeding, while long-duration KMC provided greater benefits for weight and head growth. The findings suggest that KMC duration should be tailored based on specific clinical needs.</p>

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The effects of short- and long-duration Kangaroo Mother Care and conventional care on improving weight gain in low birth weight infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月10日

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  • Zhijia Gong,
  • Jiao He,
  • Li Zhang

摘要

Background

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a cornerstone intervention in neonatal care, widely recognized for its capacity to reduce morbidity and mortality in vulnerable newborns. Its simplicity, low cost, and adaptability make it especially valuable in resource-limited settings, where conventional neonatal intensive care may not be feasible.

Aim

This study aimed to compare the effects of long-duration KMC (≥ 8 h/day) and short-duration KMC (< 8 h/day) versus conventional care (i.e., routine incubator-based or standard neonatal care without structured skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support) on growth and breastfeeding outcomes in low-birth-weight (LBW) infants.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted, analyzing 10 randomized controlled trials involving 1,153 neonates, with data sourced from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE, covering studies published up to April 1, 2025.

Results

A total of 1,286 publications were initially identified, of which 10 randomized controlled trials (involving 1,153 neonates) met the inclusion criteria. For weight gain, both KMC durations improved daily gain (pooled MD = 4.52 g/day, 95% CI: 1.90–7.14), with long-duration KMC showing a greater effect (MD = 5.04 g/day, 95% CI: 0.98–9.10) compared to short-duration (MD = 3.71 g/day, 95% CI: 1.55–5.87). In length gain, the weekly increase was similar for both durations (MD = 0.09 cm/week, 95% CI: 0.06–0.12). For head circumference, short-duration KMC had a greater effect (MD = 0.07 cm/week, 95% CI: 0.04–0.10) than long-duration (MD = 0.04 cm/week, 95% CI: 0.01–0.07). Exclusive breastfeeding rates were higher with short-duration KMC (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.45–4.02) compared to long-duration (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.11–2.98).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that both short- and long-duration KMC effectively improve growth and breastfeeding outcomes in LBW infants, albeit with differential advantages across endpoints. Short-duration KMC was more effective for optimizing length gain and exclusive breastfeeding, while long-duration KMC provided greater benefits for weight and head growth. The findings suggest that KMC duration should be tailored based on specific clinical needs.