Date of Last Revision
2023-05-02 14:10:32
Major
Nursing
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2015
Abstract
Infants that are born near-term or before they reach their full gestational age of 40 weeks are at risk for facing future health problems and disparities in terms of proper development (Ladewig, London, & Davidson, 2012). This has been a major concern in the medical realm because of the high cost of managing preterm newborns and the complications that can develop. However, kangaroo care may aid in physical growth and cognitive development of these infants. The purpose of this integrative review was to determine if current research shows that kangaroo care has a positive effect on preterm infants in the following aspects: vital signs, infant mortality rates, behavioral development, parent-infant bonding, pain, and breastfeeding. Various databases, including Oxford Journals, PsychInfo, CINAHL, PubMed, and Medline were used to find twenty research studies that discussed kangaroo care in relation to various aspects of infant development. Through the analysis of these articles, it was found that kangaroo care has a positive effect on maintaining healthy vital signs, reducing rates of mortality, as well as behavioral development, breastfeeding rates, pain occurrence, and bonding between parents and infants. Recommendations have been made as to how to integrate this practice into standard care for NICU patients.
Research Sponsor
Michele Enlow, DNP, RNC-OB
First Reader
Lisa Hart, MSN, RN, CNE
Second Reader
Marie Cobb, DNP, RNC-OB, CNS, IBCLC
Recommended Citation
Schindler, Natalie and Lynn, Kathryn, "Kangaroo Care and Preterm Infants" (2015). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 105.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/105