BetaEntity Annotation Prototype
← Back to diseases

Annotated abstract

221 Cultural adaptation of the dream warmer as a complement to the kangaroo mother care method in the prevention of neonatal hypothermia and the promotion of child development in indigenous riverine communities of Guainía, Colombia

bmjpo · 2026-07-14 · canonical JSON source

3 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

Document resource

Objectives To introduce and culturally adapt the Dream Warmer™, a reusable thermal blanket designed to prevent neonatal hypothermia and promote early childhood development in indigenous riverine communities of Guainía—the Colombian department with the highest neonatal mortality rate.Methods Using a Participatory Action Research approach, an implementation strategy will be co-designed with indigenous families, midwives, traditional healers, health personnel, and the Guainía Departmental Health Secretariat in three phases: (1) participatory assessment of current neonatal care practices and cultural frameworks; (2) training of health workers, midwives, and traditional healers in initial neonatal care, APGAR scoring as a predictor of neurological development, and use of the Dream Warmer™; and (3) pilot implementation during home births, out-of-hospital deliveries, and neonatal transport. Feedback will be collected through focus groups, field diaries, and an iterative adaptive process, along with clinical monitoring of neonatal status.Results The study is expected to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of the Dream Warmer™ as a complementary tool to the Kangaroo Moter Care Method. In the short term, outcomes will include prevention of neonatal hypothermia, improved survival during river transport, and reduced postnatal complications—critical factors for healthy child development. In the medium term, the project aims to strengthen intercultural neonatal care, empower local caregivers, and improve trust between communities and health systems.Conclusions This project seeks to address neonatal mortality in marginalized indigenous populations by culturally adapting a proven life-saving technology to support early childhood development and create a replicable model for other regions of the world.