Influence of Kangaroo Mother Care on breastfeeding, the introduction of complementary feeding and diet quality in the first year of life

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the influence of Kangaroo Mother Care on breastfeeding rates in preterm neonates, both at hospital discharge and throughout the first year of life, as well as its relation with the time of introduction of early complementary feeding and diet quality. Methods Observational, prospective and analytical longitudinal study conducted in a public hospital in southern Brazil. The study included 46 preterm neonates, who were admitted to a Kangaroo Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit or Conventional Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit. Results The frequency of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge was higher in preterm neonates of Kangaroo Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit (p