A toolkit to facilitate community Kangaroo Mother Care (CKMC) practice in Low and Middle-income countries (LMIC).
Authors
Presented by
Siobhán Gillespie
Affiliations
Background
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to reduce neonatal mortality rates. KMC has been identified as a significant low-cost intervention to mitigate the effects of preterm birth, though practice remains sporadic in LMICs. Work is ongoing to promote practice in healthcare facilities, however 80% of babies in LMICs are born at home. Action is necessary to protect, promote and support CKMC as a key intervention towards achieving the SDGs.
The aim is to produce a toolkit that facilitates the implementation of CKMC in LMICs, by empowering local healthcare providers to identify local influencing factors.
Method
The toolkit consists of three elements;
– A resource pack containing a report on the evidence base for CKMC, a driver diagram providing a visual display of the factors that influence CKMC & the change ideas that promote successful practice, & a ‘framework for practice’, a practical guide highlighting the factors to consider when implementing CKMC & potential actions needed. This framework for practice contains case studies, poses questions to consider, suggests levels of achievable standards & is adaptable for local contexts.
– Video training resources on KMC, primary drivers influencing CKMC & guidance on how to use the resource pack.
– A CKMC board game for staff, to support the discussion on CKMC implementation & involve ward & community based KMC staff in a less formal setting.
Results
The toolkit will be available as hard copy, or online. It is aimed at nursing management level, but also encourages the involvement of ward & community based KMC staff so ideas are pragmatic & feasible. Local staff will be able to use this toolkit, or elements of it, to identify local influences on the implementation of CKMC & changes that need to be employed in order to address these influences & achieve successful. and embedded practice.
Conclusion
This toolkit enables implementation staff to develop an action plan according to the context of their community & local specific factors that influence practice. The result is an achievable implementation strategy that is successful in promoting CKMC practice.