Cost and effectiveness analysis of Kangaroo mother care and conventional care method in low birth weight neonates in Tabriz 2010-2011

Objective: This study aimed to compare the cost and effectiveness of Kangaroo mother care (KMC) and conventional methods of care in low birth weight (LBW) neonates. Materials and Methods: A retrospective economic evaluation conducted in Al-Zahra Teaching Maternity Hospital of Tabriz, Iran by participating 45 LBW and preterm neonate in each therapeutic groups (90 neonates). Convenience sampling used to select participants from KMC and conventional care method (CCM) (incubator) groups in 2010-2011. Baseline characteristics, therapeutic interventions, resources utilization data and clinical events during the initial hospitalization and at 2-month follow-up were collected according a detailed case report forms. Data are described as mean (standard deviation) and no (percentage) and were compared with Student's t -test, χ 2 and Fisher exact test between groups. P ≤ 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Data were analyzed using the SPSS-16 statistical package. Result: The mean birth weight (BW) of the patients in KMC group was 1240.89 (5.98) g and in CCM was 1133.78 (139.06) g, hence differences in BW was statistically significant ( P P = 0.078). Daily weight gain was 12.28 g in KMC group and 9.65 g in conventional group ( P = 0.011). The mean cost of hospitalization per individual infant for KMC was 3539.47$, whereas for Conventional group was 2907.27$. Conclusion: KMC promoted weight gain in LBW infants better than conventional care. Although KMC's unit cost is a little higher than Conventional method, but comparing its positive outcomes on breastfeeding's and mortality it can be considered as cost effective method.