title: Progress with the implementation of kangaroo mother care in four regions in Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure progress with the implementation of kangaroo mother care (KMC) for low birth-weight (LBW) infants at a health systems level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Action research design, with district and regional hospitals as the unit of analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four regions in Ghana, identified by the Ghana Health Service and UNICEF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health workers and officials, health care facilities and districts in the four regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-year implementation programme with three phases: (1) introduction to KMC, skills development in KMC practice and the management of implementation; (2) advanced skills development for regional steering committee members; and (3) an assessment of progress at the end of the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Description of practices, services and facilities for KMC and the identification of strengths and challenges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six of 38 hospitals (68%) demonstrated sufficient progress with KMC implementation. Half of the hospitals had designated a special ward for KMC. 66% of hospitals used a special record for infants receiving KMC. Two of the main challenges were lack of support for mothers who had to remain with their LBW infants in hospital and no follow-up review services for LBW infants in 39% of hospitals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was possible to roll out KMC in Ghana, but further support for the regions is needed to maintain the momentum. Lessons learned from this project could inform further scale-up of KMC and other projects in Ghana.
authors: MRC Unit for Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies, University of Pretoria, South Africa. anne-marie.bergh@up.ac.za
authors: A-M
authors: AM
authors: Bergh
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Manu
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Davy
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Van Rooyen
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Quansah Asare
authors: Jk
authors: J
authors: Awoonor-Williams
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dedzo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Twumasi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nang-Beifubah
mesh_terms: D005869:Ghana; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007318:Inservice Training; D060127:Kangaroo-Mother Care Method / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007902:Length of Stay; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation
keywords: Ghana; evaluation; implementation; kangaroo mother care; premature infant
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