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. 2014 Sep 16:19:37.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2014.19.37.3928. eCollection 2014.

Helping small babies survive: an evaluation of facility-based Kangaroo Mother Care implementation progress in Uganda

Patrick Aliganyira  1 , Kate Kerber  2 , Karen Davy  3 , Nathalie Gamache  1 , Namaala Hanifah Sengendo  1 , Anne-Marie Bergh  3
Affiliations

Helping small babies survive: an evaluation of facility-based Kangaroo Mother Care implementation progress in Uganda

Patrick Aliganyira et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death in Uganda, accounting for 38% of the nation's 39,000 annual newborn deaths. Kangaroo mother care is a high-impact; cost-effective intervention that has been prioritized in policy in Uganda but implementation has been limited.

Methods: A standardised, cross-sectional, mixed-method evaluation design was used, employing semi-structured key-informant interviews and observations in 11 health care facilities implementing kangaroo mother care in Uganda.

Results: The facilities visited scored between 8.28 and 21.72 out of the possible 30 points with a median score of 14.71. Two of the 3 highest scoring hospitals were private, not-for-profit hospitals whereas the second highest scoring hospital was a central teaching hospital. Facilities with KMC services are not equally distributed throughout the country. Only 4 regions (Central 1, Central 2, East-Central and Southwest) plus the City of Kampala were identified as having facilities providing KMC services.

Conclusion: KMC services are not instituted with consistent levels of quality and are often dependent on private partner support. With increasing attention globally and in country, Uganda is in a unique position to accelerate access to and quality of health services for small babies across the country.

Keywords: Delivery of health care; Kangaroo Mother Care; Uganda; implementation; infant premature; neonatal; newborn; preterm; program evaluation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Uganda showing districts reporting at least one KMC facility
Figure 2
Figure 2
Status of KMC institutionalisation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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