Submission ID 118392
| Issue/Objective | Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an evidence-based intervention designed to improve outcomes in premature and low-birth-weight (LBW) infants through continuous skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and early discharge with outpatient follow-up until 40 weeks of gestational age. The Kangaroo Mother Care Program (KMCP) extends care through one year of life, aiming to reduce mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental issues (WHO, 2023). In Colombia, where KMC originated in 1978, the program has evolved into a national standard of care. The objective of this work is to highlight the national implementation experience of KMC in Colombia and its alignment with global health goals, particularly regarding equity and quality of care. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Colombia updated its national technical standards for KMC in 2017, followed by a 2018 resolution mandating KMCP access for all premature or LBW infants (MinSalud, 2017; 2018). In 2024, the government passed a Kangaroo Law requiring universal coverage and integration into health services (MinSalud, 2024). A standardized KMC package has been implemented since 2001, though formal economic evaluations are still needed to support health system financing strategies. The Kangaroo Foundation (KF), established in 1994, has led implementation efforts nationally and trained over 100 teams from 45 countries, aiming to position KMC as a high-quality intervention (Charpak et al., 2021). Tools such as NIDCAP have supported the inclusion of parents in neonatal care, although organized parent associations remain underdeveloped. |
| Results | By 2022, 70 KMCPs were operating in Colombia, with national coverage reaching 75% of eligible infants (KF, 2022). According to the Ministry of Health, neonatal and infant mortality among this group was 6% in 2020 (MinSalud, 2020). Technical documents and implementation guides have been issued regularly since 2002, supporting standardized national deployment. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Although premature and LBW infants account for only 10% of live births, they represent over 70% of neonatal mortality and more than 50% of neurodevelopmental disorders. KMC is a transformative strategy in maternal-infant health. Its continued success in Colombia reflects strong governance, intersectoral collaboration, and advocacy. Scaling KMC globally requires not only policy but also family engagement and sustainable system integration (WHO, 2023; Charpak et al., 2021). |
| Presenters and affiliations | nathalie charpak Kangaroo Foundation Adriana Montealegre-Pomar Kangaroo Foundation Catalina Lince Kangaroo Foundation |
