Sa Kanlungan ni Nanay: A Study on Perceptions, Attitudes, and Stressors of Kangaroo Mother Care

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of kangaroo mothers and their significant associations with their attitudes and stressors. This also aimed to determine factors that affect their approval of becoming a foster/kangaroo mother, including the perceived benefits and barriers they encountered. Using concurrent mixed method, results were drawn from 30 respondents (kangaroo mothers in KMC ward of Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital) within the months of February to April 2015. They were given either selfadministered or researcher-administered questionnaires. Interviews were made as the respondents answer their questionnaire to elaborate. Most of the respondents view the program as beneficial to both mother and child despite experiencing difficulties in execution of the method. Although most of the respondents answered that they do not practice foster kangaroo mother care, they are receptive to the idea of providing kangaroo mother care to other infants to help them as they feel that they have a responsibility towards newborns. Foster kangaroo mother care is not strictly implemented as a policy but a soft rule wherein mothers are not compelled to do it. Mothers who participated in the KMC program seem to be intrinsically motivated that situational or external conditions hardly affect their intent and commitment to the program.