Result
weight gain
EVENTS
From August 2018 to June 2019, 128 newborns were enrolled and assigned to one of two groups (CONSORT diagram Fig. CONSORT flow diagram of study participants.There were no differences in the demographic or other clinical parameters between the groups (Table Baseline characteristics of study participants.Gestational age(weeks)*Not normally distributed.Out of 64 participants from the BEMPU group, 55 neonates completed their four-week follow-up. Two neonates died; one died two weeks after of discharge, and another died three weeks after discharge. Both completed their first visits. Out of 64 from the BEMPU group, seven participants were lost to complete follow-up. While out of 64 participants from the Control group, 49 completed their four weeks follow-ups, one baby died after one week of discharge, and 14 participants were completely lost to follow-up after discharge. We tried to reach them through telephonic communication, but they could not attend the hospital for follow-up.There was 100% compliance in the filling of the KMC chart as well as the BEMPU chart (55 participants among the BEMPU group and 49 participants among the Control group).Daily KMC hours were significantly higher in the BEMPU group versus the control group (Fig. Line chart of daily mean KMC hours over 4 weeks.Daily KMC hours (weekly).4.78(2.93)583.21(1.69)14(24.14)5.28(3.07)44(75.86)3.22(2.44)514.52(3.43)563.06(1.69)16(28.57)5.11(3.77)40(71.43)2.84(2.95)504.23(3.71)553.10(3.51)21(38.18)4.92(3.72)34(61.82)2.30(2.70)493.72(3.30)552.87(2.93)28(50.91)4.61(3.49)27(49.09)1.95(2.65)49* = P3 = No Beep vs. Control group.Percentage of newborns received daily KMC for ≥ 4 h at home over 4 weeks.The mean(SD) weight gain over four weeks in the BEMPU group was similar as compared to the control group [756(249) g vs 774(265) g, p = 0.73]. A similar trend was observed in mean(SD) length [4.28(2.9) cm vs 4.41(2.52) cm, p = 0.84]. However, the mean(SD) gain in head circumference over four weeks was significantly less in the BEMPU group as compared to the control group [3.42(0.91) mm vs. 3.99(1.32) mm; p = 0.01].The study showed an additional correlation between events of drop in skin temperature prompted by beeps from BEMPU with KMC hours within the BEMPU group. Mean(SD) KMC hours were higher in the newborns in whom the BEMPU beeped than in newborns in whom the BEMPU did not beep over four weeks. However, the mean(SD) KMC hours were similar in no beep group as compared to the control group across four weeks (Table 