Open Journal of Pediatrics, 2014, 4, 143-147 Published Online June 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojped http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojped.2014.42020 How to cite this paper: Lakew, W. and Worku, B. (2014) Follow-Up Profile and Outcome of Preterms Managed with Kan- garoo Mother Care. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 4, 143-147. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojped.2014.42020 Follow-Up Profile and Outcome of Preterms Managed with Kangaroo Mother Care Wubishet Lakew 1 , Bogale Worku 2 1 Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia 2 Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Addis Ababa University Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Email: wubishet@gmail.com Received 10 April 2014; revised 7 May 2014; accepted 15 May 2014 Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is effective in preventing hypothermia, establishing breastfeeding, and reducing nosocomial infection in preterm babies in resource-limited areas. Relatively little is known about long-term morbidity and mortality outcomes among Ethiopian in- fants managed with KMC. Aims: To describe the follow up profiles and outcome of infants managed with KMC and discharged alive. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study examined out- comes among infants who were 1) managed by KMC at Black Lion Hospital, 2) discharged alive, and 3) available for follow-up. Structured, pretested questionnaires were administered to moth- ers. Results: Of the 110 infants included in the study, 9.1% died over the study period and 60% of the deaths occurred at home. Mortality was 100% in those babies with mothers aged less than 18 years. Thirty five percent of the deaths occurred in those from rural location. Common medical problems identified in study subjects were respiratory infections (10%), gastroenteritis (7%), rickets (7%), and anemia (6%). About 20% of infants were readmitted to hospital at least once. KMC initiation within one week was not found to be significantly associated with survival, but con- tinued KMC after discharge significantly decreased mortality in our sample. Conclusion: Frequent follow up is very important especially those with teenage mothers and coming from a rural loca- tion. Follow up should be frequent in the first 2 months after discharge. Further research is need- ed to explore the determinants of mortality and morbidity after hospital discharge. Keywords Preterm, Very Low Birth Weight, Kangaroo Mother Care, Follow Up Profile 1. Introduction Survival among neonates is directly related to birth weight, with approximately 20% surviving among those be- tween 500 and 600 g and 90% among those between 1250 and 1500 g. In the US, where life-support technology