Every year, millions of newborns die within the first weeks of life; many from preventable causes after leaving the hospital. The Connect Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) program bridges this post-discharge gap by combining community action with digital innovation. Through structured, app-guided home visits, trained Frontline Workers provide life-saving support, counseling, and follow-up care to families of small and vulnerable newborns, helping every baby get the chance to survive and thrive.
Strengthening Care for Small and Vulnerable Newborns Beyond the Facility
Every year, an estimated 2.3 million newborns die during the first 28 days of life, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in children under five (source). Most of these deaths occur among babies born too small or too early, with 80% having a low birth weight and two-thirds born preterm (source).
While hospitals provide essential care in the first days after birth, many families are discharged within a few days, returning home with little structured follow-up. For parents of SVNs, this transition can be overwhelming. Without postnatal visits or ongoing guidance, caregivers are left to navigate feeding, temperature regulation, and infection prevention on their own.
This post-discharge gap is a significant challenge in newborn health, and one that community-based programs are uniquely positioned to close. Evidence shows that strengthening follow-up care at home can prevent many of the deaths that occur after discharge, giving every small and vulnerable newborn the chance to survive and thrive (source).
Why Kangaroo Mother Care Matters
One of the most proven ways to protect small and vulnerable newborns after discharge is Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a simple, evidence-based practice involving continuous skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding, and early discharge from facilities with close follow-up for both the mother and baby (source).
Evidence consistently shows that compared to conventional care standards, KMC can reduce neonatal mortality by up to 40%, while also lowering rates of infection and increasing rates of exclusive breastfeeding (source). Due to its high effectiveness and feasibility in low-resource settings, the WHO recommends KMC for all newborns weighing ≤2000g at the time of birth (source).
However, despite its proven benefits, KMC coverage remains below 5% for eligible infants, leaving a significant gap where scale up could improve neonatal health and outcomes (source).
Introducing the Connect KMC ProgramÂ
Connect KMC is a digitally-enabled program that strengthens post-discharge Kangaroo Mother Care through structured home visits delivered by trained Frontline Workers (FLWs). The program ensures that families of SVNs receive consistent, high-quality support during the critical early weeks of life.
The program operates through Connect, a digital platform that enables high-impact services to be delivered through pay-per-service contracts with local organizations. Using Dimagi’s Connect mobile platform, FLWs are guided through standardized activities—such as counseling, screening, and referrals—and are paid upon verified completion of the intervention.
Before they can begin delivering the Connect KMC intervention, each FLW completes mandatory digital training, after which they have to pass an in-app learning assessment before they progress to service delivery. Once they pass the learning assessment, FLWs are guided step-by-step through each visit, using a mobile app both as a job aid and a tool for data entry. The app captures GPS and time stamps for verification, ensuring that services are delivered at the right place and time.
How the Connect KMC Program Works
Identifying Small and Vulnerable Newborns (SVNs)
Locally-Led Organizations (LLOs) partner with health facilities to identify preterm or low-birth-weight newborns. Before discharge, FLWs meet caregivers, explain KMC, and invite them to enroll in the Connect KMC program.
Home Visits for KMC Support
After discharge, FLWs conduct follow-up visits at the family’s home, eliminating the need for caregivers to travel for care. These home visits are the foundation of Connect KMC, ensuring that caregivers receive continuous guidance and reassurance throughout the KMC period.
Counseling on Skin-to-Skin Care and Exclusive Breastfeeding
During each visit, FLWs help caregivers practice sustained skin-to-skin contact using a KMC wrap, which the program provides to every caregiver. They also counsel mothers on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, helping troubleshoot feeding challenges, and provide guidance on maintaining good hygiene to prevent infections.
Screening for Danger Signs and Referral for Complications
FLWs bring simple medical equipment—including a weighing scale, measuring tape, pulse oximeter, and thermometer—to monitor the newborn’s growth and vital signs. If danger signs are detected (e.g., poor weight gain, hypothermia, or signs of infection), these are flagged in the Connect mobile application. When issues cannot be addressed during the home visit through KMC practices—such as warming the baby through skin-to-skin contact—the FLW refers the caregiver and newborn to a health facility for further assessment. The Connect application automatically prompts FLWs to follow up on referrals in the next home visit, closing the loop on referral outcomes.
Providing Emotional and Social Support to Mothers
Many mothers of preterm or low birth weight babies experience stigma and social isolation, often caring for their newborns alone. FLWs play an essential role not only as health providers but also as companions—offering encouragement, empathy, and practical advice during a vulnerable time. This consistent presence helps mothers gain confidence in caring for their newborns and strengthens trust between families and the health system.
The Bigger Picture: Strengthening the Continuum of Newborn Care
The Connect KMC program aligns closely with global priorities set out by the World Health Organization’s Global Position Paper on KMC and the Every Newborn Action Plan, both of which emphasize KMC and community-based follow-up as essential components of newborn survival. It also supports Sustainable Development Goal 3.2, which calls for reduction of neonatal death to less than 12 per 1,000 livebirths by 2030.
The program also demonstrates how locally-led organizations (LLOs) can extend high-quality care to families who need it most. They achieve this in partnership with trained FLWs from the local community, who are empowered with digital tools and fair compensation for both the FLWs and the LLOs.
Help Bring Connect Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) to More Families
Every year, millions of newborns die from preventable causes in the first weeks of life, with many families struggling to practice KMC after they are discharged from facilities. With your support, we can provide the training, tools, and support a Frontline Worker needs to deliver life-saving care to vulnerable newborns and their mothers.
Donate to Connect KMC to help us close the post-discharge gap and deliver this life-saving care.
