Aleitamento materno exclusivo e método canguru no tempo de internação de recém-nascidos com sepse neonatal em uma maternidade de Manaus.

Abstract

Neonatal sepsis remains one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly among preterm and low-birth-weight infants. Care practices such as exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method have been associated with reduced infection rates and improved clinical outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the association between exclusive breastfeeding and Kangaroo Mother Care with the length of hospital stay among newborns diagnosed with neonatal sepsis admitted to a Kangaroo Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit (KNICU) at a public maternity hospital in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, between 2022 and 2024. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, quantitative epidemiological study based on the review of 353 medical records, of which 132 met the inclusion criteria and comprised the final sample. Data were organized using Microsoft Excel® and analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, and medians) and inferential statistics, applying Pearson's chi-square test for categorical variables and Student's t-test or Mann–Whitney test for continuous variables, adopting a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). The results showed that 85.6% of the newborns were preterm, 68.2% were delivered by cesarean section, and 66.7% received exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a shorter mean hospital stay (10.9 days), whereas newborns who were not exclusively breastfed remained hospitalized for a mean of 16.1 days. Kangaroo Mother Care was implemented in 59.8% of the cases, predominantly among more clinically vulnerable newborns, which may explain the slightly longer hospitalization observed in this group. It was concluded that exclusive breastfeeding has a direct and positive impact on reducing hospital length of stay, while Kangaroo Mother Care acts as a complementary strategy that promotes clinical stabilization, strengthens the mother–infant bond, and supports the maintenance of breastfeeding. These findings reinforce the importance of implementing humanized neonatal care practices in Brazilian public maternity hospitals, particularly in socially vulnerable settings such as the Amazon region.