Does Kangaroo care affect the weight of preterm/low birth-weight infants in the neonatal setting of a hospital environment?

Effect of post-discharge online kangaroo care training on breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers with preterm infants: A randomised controlled study

BACKGROUND

Preterm newborns face many health problems due to their incomplete intrauterine development and the immaturity of their systems. One of these problems concerns nutrition. This study aimed to determine the effect of online kangaroo care (KC) training provided post-discharge on breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers with preterm infants.

METHODS

This research was conducted as an experimental study with a randomised control group. Two groups were formed: kangaroo care and control. The sample of the study consisted of 68 mothers of preterm infants. The mothers in the KC group were given online KC training after discharge from the hospital. The mothers were asked to perform KC regularly, at least once a day, for 20 min, 7 days a week. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale was administered to the mothers before and after training.

RESULTS

The results of the study revealed that the difference between the pre-test and post-test breastfeeding self-efficacy scores was statistically significantly higher among the mothers who received online KC training compared with the controls (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

According to the results of our research carried out in this context, the mothers who received online KC training had increased breastfeeding self-efficacy compared to those in the control group.

Inadequate weight gain and factors influencing it among preterm neonates in neonatal intensive care units in the Amhara region, Ethiopia, in 2022

Background

Adequate weight gain is crucial for the health and development of preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Understanding the factors influencing weight gain in this vulnerable population is essential for improving outcomes. This study aimed to assess the weight gain status and associated factors among preterm neonates admitted to NICUs in specialized hospitals in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design involving 363 preterm neonates admitted to NICUs in specialized hospitals within the Amhara region was used. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and the Kobo Tool Box. Daily weight measurements were recorded for three consecutive days. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression analysis, and graphical presentations were utilized for data analysis and presentation.

Results

The study revealed that a significant proportion (80.8%) of preterm neonates experienced poor weight gain during their NICU stay. The factors significantly associated with poor weight gain were older maternal age, delayed initiation of enteral feeding, lack of kangaroo mother care (KMC), and inadequate antenatal care visits.

Conclusion

Addressing the identified factors, such as providing adequate support during the antenatal period, promoting a timely initiation of enteral feeding, and encouraging KMC practices, is crucial for improving weight gain outcomes in preterm neonates. The findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach to neonatal care targeting both maternal and neonatal factors. Policymakers and healthcare providers should prioritize interventions aimed at optimizing weight gain in preterm neonates to improve these neonates' overall well-being and long-term outcomes.

Hold me or stroke me? Individual differences in static and dynamic affective touch

Low-threshold mechanosensory C-fibres, C-tactile afferents (CTs), respond optimally to sensations associated with a human caress. Additionally, CT-stimulation activates brain regions associated with processing affective states. This evidence has led to the social touch hypothesis, that CTs have a key role in encoding the affective properties of social touch. Thus, to date, the affective touch literature has focussed on gentle stroking touch. However, social touch interactions involve many touch types, including static, higher force touch such as hugging and holding. This study aimed to broaden our understanding of the social touch hypothesis by investigating relative preference for static vs dynamic touch and the influence of force on these preferences. Additionally, as recent literature has highlighted individual differences in CT-touch sensitivity, this study investigated the influence of affective touch experiences and attitudes, autistic traits, depressive symptomology and perceived stress on CT-touch sensitivity. Directly experienced, robotic touch responses were obtained through a lab-based study and vicarious touch responses through an online study where participants rated affective touch videos. Individual differences were determined by self-report questionnaire measures. In general, static touch was preferred over CT-non-optimal stroking touch, however, consistent with previous reports, CT-optimal stroking (velocity 1-10 cm/s) was rated most pleasant. However, static and CT-optimal vicarious touch were rated comparably for dorsal hand touch. For all velocities, 0.4N was preferred over 0.05N and 1.5N robotic touch. Participant dynamic touch quadratic terms were calculated for robotic and vicarious touch as a proxy CT-sensitivity measure. Attitudes to intimate touch significantly predict robotic and vicarious quadratic terms, as well as vicarious static dorsal hand touch ratings. Perceived stress negatively predicted robotic static touch ratings. This study has identified individual difference predictors of CT-touch sensitivity. Additionally, it has highlighted the context dependence of affective touch responses and the need to consider static, as well as dynamic affective touch.

Feasibility of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Implementation in Depok City, Indonesia

Background: The infant and neonatal mortality rate in Depok City is still high, with low birth weight (LBW) and premature births being one of the main causes. In 2018, 14 out of 41 cases of early neonatal death were due to LBW. Studies show that Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) can prevent or reduce LBW deaths caused by hypothermia, but the implementation is still not evenly distributed. Objective: Describe KMC feasibility as a supporting material for a KMC policy umbrella at Depok City. Method: Qualitative research was conducted with a Rapid Assessment Procedure (RAP) design. A total of 56 informants were divided into 8 discussion groups, 7 in-depth interviews and 2 Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The types of informants were families and inter-sectoral officers. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: KMC implementation feasibility in Depok City in terms of facilities and infrastructure was still limited and the quality was insufficient. The number of human resources was still limited, and the competency was still not evenly distributed. LBW family readiness can be maintained if provided with complete and accurate knowledge; therefore, a strong commitment may develop to continue KMC at home. The potential sources of KMC financing are found at health facilities and inter-sectoral; however, to use it, a legal umbrella at the city district level is necessary. Conclusions: The factors of potential financing sources need to be followed up into a priority. This is to overcome the constraints of KMC feasibility implementation.

The Effects of Kangaroo Care Applied by Turkish Mothers who Have Premature Babies and Cannot Breastfeed on Their Stress Levels and Amount of Milk Production

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the effects of kangaroo care applied by Turkish mothers who have premature babies and cannot breastfeed on their stress levels and amount of milk production.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial included preterm infants not breastfed by their mothers and the mothers of the infants. The mothers were randomised at a 1:1 ratio into the kangaroo care group and the standard care group. The mothers in the kangaroo care group applied kangaroo care to their babies once a day for three weeks. The mothers in the standard care group saw their infants for 15-20 min once a day for five days a week for three weeks, which was standard care in the newborn intensive care unit. The mothers milked their breasts with breast milking machines or pumps every day for three weeks.

RESULTS

The mothers in the kangaroo care group had higher breast milk production averages than the standard care group in all measurements. The mothers who applied kangaroo care had lower Parental Stressor Scale, subdimensions and total scale average scores than the mothers in the standard care group.

CONCLUSIONS

Kangaroo care is effective at stimulating breast milk production and decreasing maternal stress levels.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Kangaroo care decreases mothers' stress levels and increases breast milk production by mothers who cannot breastfeed their premature infants.

Social touch during development: Long-term effects on brain and behavior

In this paper, our goal is to explore what is known about the role of social touch during development. We first address the neural substrates of social touch and the role of tactile experience in neural development. We discuss natural variation in early exposure to social touch, followed by a discussion on experimental manipulations of social touch during development and "natural experiments", such as early institutionalization. We then consider the role of other developmental and experiential variables that predict social touch in adults. Throughout, we propose and consider new theoretical models of the role of social touch during development on later behavior and neurobiology.