Comparison 2. Early versus late kangaroo mother care in relatively stable LBW infants.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mortality at 4 weeks of age	1	73	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.95 [0.18, 20.53]
2 Morbidity at 4 weeks of age	1	73	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.49 [0.18, 1.28]
3 Severe infection at 4 weeks of age	1	73	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.42 [0.12, 1.49]
4 Re‐admission to hospital at 4 weeks of age	1	73	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.95 [0.18, 20.53]
5 Hypothermia	1	73	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.58 [0.15, 2.27]
6 Hyperthermia	1	73	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.56, 1.99]
7 Weight gain (grams)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 At 24 hours post birth	1	73	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	39.16 [11.11, 67.21]
7.2 At 48 hours post birth	1	73	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	43.3 [5.49, 81.11]
7.3 At 2 weeks of age	1	73	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	12.14 [‐83.18, 107.46]
7.4 At 4 weeks of age	1	73	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	58.85 [‐116.93, 234.63]
8 Exclusive breastfeeding	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
8.1 At 24 hours of age	1	73	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.02 [0.67, 1.57]
8.2 At 2 weeks of age	1	71	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.89, 1.12]
8.3 At 4 weeks of age	1	67	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.85, 1.04]
8.4 At 6 months of age	1	55	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.69 [0.99, 7.31]
9 Length of hospital stay (days)	1	73	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.90 [‐1.24, ‐0.56]
10 Mortality at 6 months of age	1	72	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.0 [0.15, 6.72]
11 Re‐admission to hospital at 6 to 12 months of age	1	72	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.0 [0.32, 3.16]
12 Stunting at 6 to 12 months of age	1	55	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.83 [0.46, 1.48]
13 Severe stunting at 6 to 12 months of age	1	55	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.67 [0.17, 2.73]
14 Wasting at 6 to 12 months of age	1	55	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.1 [0.01, 1.77]
15 Severe wasting at 6 to 12 months of age	1	55	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
16 Underweight at 6 to 12 months of age	1	55	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.49 [0.21, 1.14]
17 Severe underweight at 6 to 12 months of age	1	55	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.22 [0.03, 1.88]