Attachment between father and premature baby in kangaroo care in a neonatal unit of a public hospital

Abstract

BackgroundPrematurity rates are on the rise; every year, thousands of parents face having their babies prematurely. Preterm labor breaks the nature of the attachment between the parents and the baby. The kangaroo method favors interaction and helps to establish attachment between the father-baby dyad. The father often does not have the same opportunities as the mother to participate in the baby's care while staying in the neonatal units. AimsAnalyze fathers' attachment with their babies in a neonatal kangaroo unit. Study designWe conducted a cross-sectional study with 32 fathers of premature babies hospitalized in a neonatal unit. We use the paternal postnatal attachment scale. It is an instrument that measures attachment in three factors: patience, tolerance, and satisfaction; Pride and affection; interaction and transition to parenthood. ResultsAttachment was affected by factors such as the type of prematurity of the baby, the residence of the father, the type of birth, and the fathers who made skin-to-skin contact. There were no significant differences in attachment scores for the father's age, the baby's gender, or the father's education level. ConclusionFathers who performed skin-to-skin contact have higher attachment scores. Fathers are in a complicated situation as they do not have a paternity leave equivalent to that of mothers, and by the economic burden of having a premature baby.