Submission ID 118302
| Issue/Objective | KMC was developed in Colombia in 1978 as a low-cost, evidence-based strategy for preterm and low birth weight infants. It includes three components: continuous skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding when possible, and early discharge with close outpatient follow-up in Kangaroo Mother Care Programs (KMCPs). These KMCPs monitor high-risk infants up to one year of age. However, care responsibilities often fall exclusively on mothers, while fathers' participation remains limited due to rigid cultural norms influenced by religion, tradition, and social structures. Recognizing paternal involvement as a gender equity issue, and the potential of KMC to support more inclusive family dynamics, this study aimed to explore fathers' self-perceived competence in providing KMC and how this perception evolves by 40 weeks of gestational age, as observed by fathers and others involved in care. Despite clear evidence of the physiological and emotional benefits of paternal participation, no structured educational resources are currently offered to fathers in KMCPs. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A mixed-methods study was conducted in a KMCP in Bogotá-Colombia. The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) was used to assess 212 families-fathers, mothers, grandmothers, and healthcare professionals-at program entry and again at 40 weeks gestational age. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 fathers. Quantitative data were analyzed statistically; qualitative findings followed a phenomenological approach. |
| Results | Descriptive results showed that most fathers were in stable relationships and belonged to low-to-middle-income households. Paternity leave was available to only 58%, and 78% were not present at birth. While 82% had skin-to-skin contact, only 37% practiced it for over four hours during visits. Fathers reported growing confidence over time, often supported by grandmothers, though mothers didn't always perceive this change. In-depth qualitative analyses of the interviews with the fathers are in progress. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | KMC is a powerful catalyst for inclusive and equitable health governance. Actively engaging fathers in infant care promotes co-parenting, strengthens family bonds, and improves child development. These findings support culturally responsive policies that reduce gender disparities and empower fathers. Implications include the need for extended paternity leave and targeted training. Promoting shared responsibility through KMC can inspire global models of equitable care and strengthen trust in health systems with family-centered models. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Catalina Lince-Rivera Fundación Canguro Adriana Montealegre Fundación Canguro Nathalie Charpak Fundación Canguro |
