Encouraging skin-to-skin care for mothers of low birth weight infants in rural India

Promoting community-based Kangaroo Care among mothers of low birth weight infants in rural India

NIH-funded research Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-10887207

This study is all about helping moms in rural India take care of their tiny babies by encouraging them to practice Kangaroo Care, which means holding their babies close to their skin, to improve their health and reduce the risk of losing them after leaving the hospital.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Worcester, United States)
Project IDNIH-10887207 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to promote Kangaroo Care, a method of skin-to-skin contact, among mothers of low birth weight infants in rural India. The project will develop a community-based intervention to support mothers after their infants are discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). By focusing on the unique challenges faced by these families, the research will utilize community engagement and implementation science to ensure the intervention is effective and sustainable. The goal is to reduce infant mortality rates by encouraging this low-cost, lifesaving practice.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are mothers of low birth weight infants who have recently been discharged from the NICU in rural India.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have low birth weight infants or who are not in rural India may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce infant mortality rates among low birth weight infants in rural India.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that Kangaroo Care can be effective in improving health outcomes for low birth weight infants, indicating a promising approach.

Where this research is happening

Worcester, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.