In Madagascar, a significant number of newborns are premature, with 118,000 cases reported annually. The country also records 5,400 deaths of children under five years old due to complications related to premature birth. To combat this, Dr. Élodie Ranjanoro, part of Compassion Madagascar, has been advocating for the kangaroo mother method as an alternative to incubators. This method involves skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her premature infant.
The kangaroo mother method was invented in 1978 by Colombian pediatrician Edgard Rey Sanabria. Inspired by the way kangaroo joeys develop in their mother's pouch, Sanabria discovered that skin-to-skin contact had positive effects on premature infants. In Madagascar, Dr. Yvonne Ranaivoson introduced this method in the early 2000s at Befelatanana Hospital in Antananarivo. A Japanese pediatrician also developed the method at Mahajanga Hospital.
Dr. Ranjanoro has been promoting the kangaroo mother method for nearly a decade. She was trained in Colombia and incorporated the method into Compassion Madagascar's program. The organization provides support to underprivileged children and conducts awareness campaigns to encourage medical personnel to adopt the method. They receive about 30 requests for help daily.
According to Dr. Ranjanoro, the kangaroo mother method helps premature infants gain weight faster than those in incubators. It also fosters a psychological bond between the mother and child, reducing stress and trauma. Studies confirm that children who benefited from this method are more psychologically stable and successful in their professional lives.
Compassion Madagascar has been working with 24 health centers and university hospitals since 2013. The goal is to implement the kangaroo mother method in over 2,000 health centers nationwide. Dr. Ranjanoro's association also provides support for out-of-school children to return to school with food assistance.
Premature infants are born before 37 weeks of gestation and weigh less than 2,500 grams. In Madagascar, 16% of babies are born with a weight below 2,500 grams. The country records 2,900 cases of premature survivors with disabilities annually. Premature birth is the leading cause of mortality among children under five.
Dr. Ranjanoro's efforts aim to increase awareness and adoption of the kangaroo mother method. With support from individuals and companies, Compassion Madagascar's program can expand to help thousands of children. Currently, 125 children benefit from the organization's education and food assistance program.
Key points
- 118,000 premature births occur annually in Madagascar.
- 5,400 children under five die due to premature birth complications each year.
- The kangaroo mother method helps reduce premature infant mortality and promotes psychological stability.
