Kangaroo Mother Care Practices and Barriers Among Nurses at Neonatal Units in Ondo State, South West Nigeria

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is an evidence-based, low-cost intervention that significantly reduces mortality and morbidity among preterm and low-birth-weight neonates. Its implementation in Nigerian neonatal units, however, remains suboptimal. This cross-sectional descriptive study investigates KMC knowledge, practices, and perceived barriers among nurses working in neonatal units at secondary and tertiary health facilities in Ondo State, South West Nigeria. A total of 96 neonatal nurses from five health facilities in Akure, Ondo, and Okitipupa participated. A structured self-administered questionnaire assessed KMC knowledge, current practice, frequency of initiation, and institutional and personal barriers. Knowledge of KMC was adequate in 71.9% of respondents, but routine initiation of KMC for eligible neonates was practised by only 48.9% of nurses. Major barriers included heavy workload limiting time for KMC facilitation (68.8%), inadequate space for KMC in neonatal wards (56.3%), inconsistent physician support (44.8%), and caregiver reluctance due to misconceptions about the practice (39.6%). Facilities with a written KMC protocol demonstrated significantly higher KMC utilisation rates. The study recommends developing facility-level KMC protocols, creating dedicated KMC spaces within neonatal units, conducting structured staff training, and implementing caregiver education programmes to increase acceptance. Keywords: kangaroo mother care, neonatal nursing, preterm, Ondo State, South West Nigeria.