Influence of Kangaroo Mother Care on breastfeeding, the introduction of complementary feeding and diet quality in the first year of life

Abstract

Objective To assess the influence of Kangaroo Mother Care on breastfeeding rates in preterm neonates, both at hospital discharge and throughout the first year of life, as well as its relation with the time of introduction of early complementary feeding and diet quality. Methods Observational, prospective and analytical longitudinal study conducted in a public hospital in southern Brazil. The study included 46 preterm neonates, who were admitted to a Kangaroo Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit or Conventional Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit. Results The frequency of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge was higher in preterm neonates of Kangaroo Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit (p<0.001), and at four months of corrected age, 35% of them continued on exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.029), as compared to infants in Conventional Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit. However, at six and 12 months, no difference was found in breastfeeding rates between the participating groups. At four months of corrected age, approximately 45% of the breastfeeding infants in both groups were already on complementary feeding. At 12 months of corrected age, consumption of ultra-processed foods was 38.9% in infants from the Kangaroo Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit and 70% in infants from the Conventional Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit (p=0.054), and no significant differences were found. Conclusion The Kangaroo Mother Care fostered exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge and at 4 months of corrected age. On the other hand, with regard to the early introduction of complementary feeding, Kangaroo Mother Care was not protective, and a high rate of consumption of processed foods by infants was found.