KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF KANGAROO MOTHER CARE AMONG NEONATAL NURSING STAFF AT OLA DURING CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE

Abstract

Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been proven to decrease rates of morbidity and mortality among premature and low-birth-weight infants. Thus, this study aimed to obtain baseline data regarding KMC knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among nursing staff caring for newborns in a tertiary hospital in Sierra Leone.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 32 participants from the neonatal unit at the Ola During Children Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Participants included 17 State Enrolled Community Health Nurses, 10 State Registered Nurses, 2 with Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2 Nursing aid, and a midwife. The nursing staffs were interviewed face-to-face to gather the data using standardized questionnaires. Their knowledge was assessed through open-ended questions, while close-ended questions were used to assess their attitude and practices of KMC.

Results: Among the included nursing staff, 65.6% (21/32) had received KMC training. About 75% of the nursing staff had positive attitude towards KMC, 87.5% had good KMC practices and most nursing staff could mention the two most commonly cited advantages of KMC. Their unawareness of other benefits of KMC, and even potential disadvantages, resulted in an overall low assessment of their knowledge on KMC

Conclusions: The majority of neonatal nursing staff at ODCH, had received training on KMC and demonstrated good attitude and practice towards implementing KMC, but their knowledge was generally poor. Expanding and equipping the KMC unit, encouraging and educating mothers on KMC, and training and retraining nurses on KMC, were among the factors listed to strengthen and enhance KMC implementation.

Keywords: Prematurity, Low-Birthweight, KMC, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice.