Table 2 A summary of the views and knowledge of caregivers and healthcare workers (HCWs) regarding preterm care practices

Kangaroo Care

‘We make kangaroo for the child to get the same warmth as she was in the womb… you carry and put him here, you make sure that the neck balances, the head has to be up a bit, his stomach to be on your stomach … and you get a piece of cloth and tie on his back’ – FGD.M.11

‘We tie the baby on the mother’s chest and then the mother will be generating the heat for the baby, and therefore preventing the hypothermia’ – IDI.HCW1.1

Feeding

‘The breastfeeds, they told me after every two hours to be feeding… and also with the spoon’ – IDI.M.7

‘I have to give only milk until he makes nine months’ – FGD.A.2

‘They know their times of breastfeeding … they are encouraged to feed the children on time… we also tell them to give nothing else but breast milk… we advise that they add the milk by spoon’ – IDI.HCW1.4

Controlling Visitors

‘When we go back home … I keep back my child in the bedroom and do not allow people to see her or handle her’ – FGD.GM.2

‘They must limit the visitors when they are at home… there should be minimal handling of these preterms, not everyone is supposed to visit the premature’ – IDI.HCW1.2

Hand Hygiene

‘You have to wash your hands well before handling the child, don’t give milk when you’re dirty’ – FGD.M.10

‘They know that they have to wash hands before they breastfeed and before they start expressing milk’ – IDI.HCW1.4

Maintaining Temperature

We just touch on the baby and when we feel he is too hot or otherwise too cold. So, they told us to maintain that temperature by covering the baby using heavy clothes of the baby – IDI.F.1

They just touch, and they know this baby, the temperature is very low… they can tell. But we also empower those who can afford to buy thermometers – IDI.HCW1.4