Barriers to Implementing Kangaroo Mother Care in Neonatal Care Services in Luanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47363/JFMPM/2025(2)114Keywords:
Premature Infant, Kangaroo-Mother Care Method, Skin-to-Skin Care, Humanized Neonatal Care, Implementation Barriers, Health Personnel Training, Infant MortalityAbstract
Background: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an evidence-based strategy to provide vital support for preterm or low-birth-weight infants, developed in response to shortages of technological and human resources. It combines qualified, humanized care with biopsychosocial interventions centered on skin-to-skin contact.
Objective: To analyze the barriers limiting effective implementation of KMC in neonatal services at maternity hospitals in Luanda, Angola.
Development: Although KMC is used globally (in both low- and high-income countries), its application in Luanda remains limited. This setting faces high birth rates and insufficient resources for neonatal care. Continuous, specialized training of nursing staff is identified as a critical factor for adequate care delivery, enabling integrated support for the newborn and family as a unit, and is essential for KMC adoption.
Conclusions: KMC represents an effective, humanized approach for immediate neonatal care in Luanda. Urgent training of healthcare staff in caring for preterm mother-infant dyads is fundamental. Furthermore, increasing prenatal KMC awareness among the population may contribute to reducing infant mortality under one year of age.