The economic benefits of increasing kangaroo skin-to-skin care and breastfeeding in neonatal units : analysis of a pragmatic intervention in clinical practice.

A number of significant recent research studies have used techniques of economic modelling to demonstrate potential benefits of increasing breastfeeding rates in the UK overall, and specifically in neonatal care. This paper complements this growing body of evidence by presenting an economic analysis of data from an actual intervention, the @Getting it Right from the Start' programme, which took place in the north of the UK (across Yorkshire and the Humber) during 2011-2013, with the aim of increasing breastfeeding (BF) and kangaroo skin-to-skin care (KC) in neonatal units. Results overall, the economic analysis demonstrated that for every £1 invested in the intervention to increase KC and BF rates, between £4.00 and £13.83 of benefit was generated. This was spread across different health care settings and the timescale for the realisation of benefits will vary. This was one of a first economic evaluations of an actual intervention to increase BF and KC in neonatal units. Economic evaluation should be more frequently included in studies of practical interventions in clinical settings to increase breastfeeding. Authors:Lowson K, Offer C, Watson J, McGuire W, Renfrew MJ (2015)