Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care in the NICU on the Physiological Stress Parameters of Premature Infants: A Meta-Analysis of RCTs.

Delia Cristóbal Cañadas,Antonio Bonillo Perales,Rafael Galera Martínez,María Del Pilar Casado-Belmonte,Tesifón Parrón Carreño

doi:10.3390/ijerph19010583

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the randomised controlled trials that explored the effect of kangaroo mother care on physiological stress parameters of premature infants. Methods: Two independent researchers performed a systematic review of indexed studies in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane and Scopus. We included data from randomized controlled trials measuring the effects of kangaroo care compared to standard incubator care on physiological stress outcomes, defined as oxygen saturation, body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. The PRISMA model was used to conduct data extraction. We performed a narrative synthesis of all studies and a meta-analysis when data were available from multiple studies that compared the same physiological parameters with the kangaroo method as an intervention and controls and used the same outcome measures. Results: Twelve studies were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis. According to statistical analysis, the mean respiratory rate of preterm infants receiving KMC was lower than that of infants receiving standard incubator care (MD, −3.50; 95% CI, −5.17 to −1.83; p < 0.00001). Infants who received kangaroo mother care had a higher mean heart rate, oxygen saturation and temperature, although these results were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that kangaroo care in the neonatal intensive care unit setting is a safe method that may have a significant effect on some of the physiological parameters of stress in preterm infants. However, due to clinical heterogeneity, further studies are needed to assess the effects of physiological stress in the neonatal intensive care unit on the development of preterm infants.

Highlights

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), preterm infants are exposed to stress factors such as invasive hospital procedures, bright light and noise from medical equipment [1,2]
On heart rate not significant in concluded the research showed the thateffect skin-to-skin carewas resulted in short-term the kangaroo intervention, there was no significant increase in heart rate, soAlthough taken together, improvements in cardiorespiratory stress compared to incubator care
There is evidence that kangaroo mother care is similar to conventional care

Summary

Introduction

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), preterm infants are exposed to stress factors such as invasive hospital procedures, bright light and noise from medical equipment [1,2]. Useful and indispensable interventions in the NICU can lead to physiological and behavioural reactions in preterm infants [3,4]. The separation of babies from their mothers and the neonatal intensive care unit environment itself limits visual, tactile and acoustic interactions between infants and mothers, affecting maternal bonding [5]. The World Health Organization has defined kangaroo mother care (KMC) as early, continuous and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the newborn, with

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion