Transforming neonatal nursing: a randomized controlled trial comparing kangaroo care and standard protocols for survival in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome

Table 4 Anthropometric measurements and growth trajectories according to WHO preterm growth standards

Growth parameter	KMC group (n = 120)	Standard care group (n = 120)	Mean difference (95% CI)	Effect size (Cohen’s d)	p-value¹
Weight (g)²
- Birth	1450.2 (135.3) [1]	1448.3 (137.6) [1]	1.9 (−31.2, 35.0)	0.01	0.910
- Day 7	1392.8 (129.4) [2]	1375.6 (132.1) [2]	17.2 (−14.8, 49.2)	0.13	0.291
- Day 14	1428.5 (124.6) [1]	1396.3 (128.9) [1]	32.2 (0.8, 63.6)*	0.25	0.044
- Day 21	1524.7 (118.2) [2]	1458.2 (122.4) [2]	66.5 (35.9, 97.1)**	0.55	<0.001
- Pre-discharge	1682.3 (112.5) [1]	1572.8 (116.7) [1]	109.5 (79.6, 139.4)**	0.96	<0.001
Growth velocity⁴
- g/kg/day (Week 1)	12.8 (3.2) [2]	11.2 (3.4) [1]	1.6 (0.8, 2.4)**	0.48	<0.001
- g/kg/day (Week 2)	15.4 (3.0) [1]	13.1 (3.2) [2]	2.3 (1.5, 3.1)**	0.74	<0.001
- g/kg/day (Week 3)	17.2 (2.8) [1]	14.3 (3.0) [1]	2.9 (2.2, 3.6)**	1.00	<0.001
Length (cm)⁵
- Birth	39.8 (1.8) [2]	39.7 (1.9) [1]	0.1 (−0.4, 0.6)	0.05	0.698
- Week 2	40.6 (1.7) [1]	40.2 (1.8) [2]	0.4 (−0.1, 0.9)	0.23	0.115
- Week 4	42.3 (1.6) [1]	41.4 (1.7) [1]	0.9 (0.4, 1.4)**	0.54	<0.001
Head circumference (cm)⁶
- Birth	28.4 (1.2) [1]	28.3 (1.3) [1]	0.1 (−0.2, 0.4)	0.08	0.512
- Week 2	29.2 (1.1) [2]	28.8 (1.2) [2]	0.4 (0.1, 0.7)*	0.35	0.009
- Week 4	30.8 (1.0) [1]	30.1 (1.1) [1]	0.7 (0.4, 1.0)**	0.67	<0.001

KMC Kangaroo Mother Care; CI confidence interval; SD standard deviation; η² partial eta squared
¹Statistical significance determined using linear mixed-effects models with Bonferroni correction
²Weight measurements taken daily, presented at key time points
³Values presented as mean (SD); numbers in square brackets [n] indicate missing data
⁴Growth velocity calculated using the exponential method
⁵Length measurements taken weekly using standardized infantometer
⁶Head circumference measured weekly using non-stretchable measuring tape
p < 0.05 ** p < 0.001
Abbreviations: KMC = Kangaroo Mother Care; CI = Confidence Interval; SD = Standard Deviation; %² = Partial eta squared

ISSN: 1472-6955