The passage describes usual KMC initiation and evidence for beginning KMC immediately after birth in low-birth-weight neonates.
Usual initiation
•
Infants usually receive KMC after achieving cardiorespiratory stability, often on the second or third day or later.
Immediate KMC
•
A multicentric study in India, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania reported 25% improved survival in neonates weighing 1.0–1.79 kg who received KMC immediately after birth.
•
After birth, neonates were transported with a caregiver in the KMC position to a specially created mother-neonatal intensive care unit (M-NICU), which could care for both infants and mothers.
•
Infants received continuous KMC from their mothers or other caregivers.
Settings for provision
•
The passage describes India implementing immediate KMC in district and medical college hospitals.
•
Another study demonstrated that KMC could also be provided at home.