Development of strategies to enhance quality kangaroo mother care at selected public hospitals, Limpopo Province

Abstract

BACKGROUND The quality Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) continues to be sub-standard as it is not managed properly, despite the maternal and neonatal services provided by the midwives during postpartum and neonatal period, as this can lead to increased neonatal mortality rate and maternal depression at selected hospitals of Limpopo Province, therefore the researcher is interested in developing strategies to enhance quality KMC at selected hospitals of Limpopo Province. KMC has been found to have physiological, behavioural, psychosocial and cognitive developmental benefits, and it enhances motherinfant bonding. The aim of the study was to develop strategies to enhance quality Kangaroo Mother Care in selected hospitals of Limpopo Province.

RESEARCH METHOD A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional research method was used to collect numerical data with regard to the factors that hinders the quality Kangaroo Mother Care in selected hospitals of Limpopo Province. Population size was 77, Simple Random Probability Sampling was used in this study with the sample size of 65 midwives. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Quantitative analysis is the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomenon reflected on observations (Babbie & Roberts, 2018).

RESULTS The study revealed that the factors that hinders quality of Kangaroo Mother Care are lack of education and training to midwives regarding Kangaroo Mother Care, and other sources suggested that all categories of nurses should also be trained. The midwives are knowledgeable with regard to KMC, however, the problem remains the work overload when they have to monitor both the mother and neonate during feeding. It was further indicated that family members can also assist with regard to KMC. Strategies were developed, as optimal KMC environment, optimal KMC interventions, enhance optimal mother attitude to KMC crate gender sensitive environment.

CONCLUSION The study concluded that the quality of KMC should be enhanced through both the promotion of education and training to all midwives, and involvement of families to assist in KMC at selected hospitals of Limpopo Province