Impact of Kangaroo Care on Premature Infants’ Vital Signs: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction The Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) approach is the most effective method for ensuring that a newborn's skin maintains direct contact with the mother's skin. This practice is particularly beneficial for all newborns, especially those who are premature or have low birth weight. The current study aims to evaluate the effects of the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method on the vital signs and arterial oxygen saturation of newborns compared to a control group not receiving KMC. Methods This study was conducted as a retrospective cohort study on 188 premature infants (defined as those with a gestational age of less than 37 weeks) admitted to the hospital. The vital signs, which include temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate per minute, and arterial oxygen saturation, were assessed and documented prior to, during, and following the care process in both groups. These measurements were subsequently compared and analyzed. Results The results of repeated measures variance analysis showed that the mean body temperature in the KMC group was statistically different from that of the control group, increasing from 35.68 on the first day to 36.68 on the 14th day (p < 0.05). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures exhibited statistically significant differences across all assessment stages over the 14-day period, with the KMC group demonstrating lower levels (p < 0.05). The means of the heart rate and respiratory rate of the newborns on each of the 14 days evaluated in the two groups did not show a statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Discussion It has been established that Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has a significant impact on physiological parameters such as body temperature and blood pressure. The findings of our study were consistent with the results of other studies. Conclusion We concluded that Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), which entails skin-to-skin contact between an infant and caregiver, has been shown to significantly influence physiological parameters, including body temperature and blood pressure. On the other hand, no significant differences were found in the mean heart rate and respiratory rate. Additional research with enhanced methodological rigor is required to validate these findings. It was concluded that by promoting direct contact, KMC helps with thermoregulation, allowing neonates to maintain a stable body temperature through the warmth of the caregiver's skin, which is vital in preventing hypothermia.