Kangaroo Care—Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices among Clinicians: International Perspective from a Cross-sectional Survey
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Kangaroo care (KC) is a low-cost, effective intervention offering many benefits to the infant, parents, health system, and society.Although knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding KC among clinicians have reported at a single-institution or local regional levels, concerns remain about information gaps related to national income levels.This study aimed to explore disparities in KAP on KC among clinicians across countries with different income levels.Methods: A web-based survey was conducted between December 2024 and March 2025.Only one response per clinician was collected.Results: Responses from 134 clinicians across 32 countries revealed that while awareness and acceptance of KC were generally high among caregivers and parents, significant disparities existed based on country income levels.Most respondents (90%) reported acceptable knowledge levels, but formal training for caregivers was limited (36%), particularly in upper-middle-income countries (UMICs).Local guidelines were more commonly available in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) than in UMICs.Attitudes toward KC were largely positive among both caregivers (84%) and parents (78%), with higher support observed in high-income countries (HICs).Mothers often preferred practicing KC with their partner present and generally felt comfortable during the process.In practice, KC was more widely implemented for both term and preterm infants in HICs, whereas LMICs focused more on preterm or low birth weight infants.Conclusions: There is a need for more structured training and consistent guidelines to promote equitable and effective KC practices globally.
Source: Newborn
Author: Pranav R Jani
Institution: Westmead Hospital
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4415405477