Knowledge and practice of mother kangaroo care among nurses in public hospitals in Somalia

Abstract

Low birth weight and preterm birth are the most prevalent infant health issues globally. One million newborns die every year within the first 28 days, and the world's highest neonatal mortality rate is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to evaluate nurses' knowledge and practices regarding mother kangaroo care in public hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. From November 15, 2022, to April 15, 2023, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among pediatric ward and newborn nurses in public hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. The surveyed pediatric ward and neonatal nurses had a majority of 154 (85.6%) females and mostly 119 (66.1%) singles. The majority had a bachelor's degree of 164 (91.1%), mostly 153 (85%) of participants had never received specific training, and 54.4% of the nurses had knowledge about its components. The study highlights a lack of specialized training for 153 participants, with 85% not receiving it. It recommends hospitals improve nursing staff's knowledge and establish positive practices for pediatric nursing and neonatal intensive care units .