A path analysis of predictive factors affecting kangaroo mother care practice among mothers in communities in upper east region, Ghana

This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study aimed to explore the level of KMC practice among the mothers in communities in Upper East Region, Ghana, and to explore the direct and indirect effects of socioeconomic status, social support, maternal autonomy, self -efficacy and sociocultural norms on the practice of KMC in communities in Upper East Region, Ghana. The sample were 300 mothers of preterm and/low birth weight babies recruited by using stratified random sampling technique. This study applied the Socio-Ecological Model as a theoretical framework. Data were collected using questionnaires including socioeconomic status, social support, maternal autonomy, self-efficacy, sociocultural norms and KMC practice. All of the questionnaires were translated into Gurune and Kasem. SPSS version 28 and Mplus version 7.2 were used to analyze the data. The analysis took into account both descriptive and inferential statistics with alpha level set at 0.05. It was found that kangaroo mother care practice was at low level (X̄=15.82, SD= 8.70). The hypothesized model of this study fitted the data with indices; χ2 /df = 1.32, CFI=0.997, RMSEA=0.033, TLI=0.995 and SRMR=0.014. About 91% of the total Kangaroo mother care practice was explained by the independent and mediating variables. Socioeconomic status had a positive direct effect on kangaroo mother Care practice (β =0.561, t=5.238, p=0.000). Additionally, sociocultural norms had an indirect negative effect on kangaroo mother care practice through social support (β= -0.297, t= -2.070 p=0.038) and indirect negative effect through maternal autonomy (β = -0.290, t=-2.734 p= 0.006). Moreover, self-efficacy has a direct positive effect on kangaroo mother care practice (β=0.426 t=2.426 p=0.015) and an indirect positive effect on kangaroo mother care practice through maternal autonomy (β= 0.428, t=3.287, p= 0.001). The findings of this study suggest the need to develop nursing interventions aimed promoting maternal autonomy, social support and self-efficacy to improve post-discharge kangaroo mother care.