Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2012, 3(4):497-504

Verifying the benefits of kangaroo mother care - a pilot study

Lucie Sikorová^1,*, Monika Suszková²

¹ Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava

² Department of Neonatology, University hospital Ostrava

Aim: The pilot study aimed at determining whether kangaroo mother care decreases heart and respiration rates in preterm newborns, affects saturation of peripheral oxygen and length of newborns' hospital stay at a neonatal intensive care unit, an d influences mother-child interaction.

Methods: The method of study was an experiment. To assess the effect of kangaroo mother care, physiological functions were measured. Mother-child interaction was assessed using the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS). Statistical analyses were carried out with a two-sample t-test, non-parametric Wilcoxon test, chi-square test and Fischer's exact test. The statistical tests were evaluated at a significance level of 5%.

Results: Of the physiological functions studied, only body temperature was confirmed to be significantly increased. There was no significant difference in mother-child interaction prior to kangaroo care between the study and control groups. After kangaroo care (i.e. prior to hospital discharge), interest in their babies was significantly higher (p=0.0354) in mothers providing kangaroo care than in the controls. In all MPAS items, pre-discharge levels of maternal bonding were higher in the group of children provided with kangaroo care than in the controls.

Conclusion: Kangaroo mother care was shown to have a positive effect on preterm newborns, as manifested by higher body temperature, increased interest in newborn's needs and a stronger mother - child bond.

Keywords: kangaroo mother care, preterm newborn, Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale, body temperature, physiological function

Published: September 30, 2012  Show citation