Effect of Kangaroo
Effect
of Kangaroo Mother Care on Premature Infants’ Physiological, Behavioral and
Psychosocial Outcomes in Ain Shams Maternity and Gynecological Hospital, Cairo,
Egypt
Nahed Saied
Mohammed El- Nagger1,4, Hoda Abed El-Azim2,4and Sahar
Mahmoud Zaki Hassan3,4
1Pediatric Nursing Department, Faculty of
Nursing, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
2Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing
Department, Faculty of Nursing, ElMinia University, ElMinia, Egypt
3Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty
of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
4Faculty of Nursing, Umm Al Qura University,
Saudi Arabia, Makkah Al- Mukramah
Abstract: Background: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a method of
skin-to-skin contact that has physiological, behavioral and psychosocial gains
for premature infants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of KMC on
premature infants' physiological, behavioral and psychosocial outcomes. Study
design: It was a quasi-experimental study. Subjects and Methods: A
purposive sample composed of fifty premature infants and their mothers were
chosen from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Ain Shams Maternity and
Gynecological Hospital according to inclusive and exclusive criteria and
recruited into two identical groups: group one was the study group (25)
received KMC and group two was the control group (25) received conventional
care. The data were collected through using the kangaroo Mother Care Assessment
Flow Sheet(KMCAFS) and Mother Bonding Behavioral Scale (pre/post).The
researcher was available three days per week, five hours per day from 10 am to
3pm. The average number of cases that was taken per week ranged from2 to 4
premature infants and their mothers. Results: Approximately,
fifty percent of premature infants' gestational age was 34 -≤ 36 weeks and <
32 weeks in both study and control groups respectively. Meanwhile, the birth
weight in three fourths of study group was 2000 - <2500 grams and more than
half of premature infants' diagnosis was prematurity. Regarding, the premature
infants' physiological outcomes, it was found that there was statistical
significant differences pre and post KMC application (X2 =
17.64, 17.64,7.76 and 0.36 and P-value≤0.05) concerning heart rate, respiratory rate,
temperature and occurrence of apneic episodes respectively.Conclusion: KMC
was effectively and positively promoted premature infants' physiological
stability, behavioral organization and enhanced psychosocial outcomes than
those cared by the conventional care.Recommendations: Educational training program for all neonatal nurses in
skills necessary to implement the KMC and further studies should be conducted
to assess the neonatal nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding
KMC.
[Nahed Saied Mohammed
El-Nagger, Hoda Abed El-Azimand Sahar Mahmoud Zaki Hassan. Effect
of Kangaroo Mother Care on Premature Infants’ Physiological, Behavioral and
Psychosocial Outcomes in Ain Shams Maternity and Gynecological Hospital, Cairo,
Egypt. Life Sci J 2013;10(1):703-716]. (ISSN: 1097-8135).http://www.lifesciencesite.com.
Key words: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), Premature Infants, Conventional Care.
