Knowledge Regarding Kangaroo Mother Care among Nurses in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Introduction Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an evidence-based intervention proven to reduce neonatal mortality by 36% and improve maternal-infant bonding. However, implementation remains inconsistent in low-resource settings like Palestine due to systemic barriers. Objective This study assessed KMC k...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ahmad Ayed PhD, Ibrahim Aqtam PhD, Raheeq Abusaif BSN, Rama Abu Tabeekh BSN, Dala’a Zaidan BSN, Miar Abu Alhaijaa BSN
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-04-01
Series:SAGE Open Nursing
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608251337320
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Summary:Introduction Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an evidence-based intervention proven to reduce neonatal mortality by 36% and improve maternal-infant bonding. However, implementation remains inconsistent in low-resource settings like Palestine due to systemic barriers. Objective This study assessed KMC knowledge levels among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses in Palestinian governmental hospitals and identified predictors of knowledge. Methods A cross-sectional study surveyed 190 NICU nurses using a validated 20-item questionnaire (CVI = 0.92; α = 0.84). Demographic variables included age, gender, education, work experience, and prior KMC training. Knowledge levels were categorized using Bloom's taxonomy (low: < 60%, moderate: 60–79%, high: ≥ 80%). Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. Results The mean knowledge score was 56.8% (SD = 19.5), with 44.4% scoring low. Significant predictors included prior KMC training ( B  = 16.656, p  < 0.001), higher education ( B  = 6.365, p  < 0.001), and older age ( B  = 9.934, p  < 0.001). Male nurses scored lower than females ( B  = −4.852, p  = 0.002). The model explained 81.4% of variance ( R 2   = 0.814). Conclusion Suboptimal KMC knowledge among Palestinian NICU nurses highlights the urgent need for structured training programs, curriculum integration, and policy reforms. Future research should address cultural and institutional barriers to improve implementation.
ISSN:2377-9608