EFFECTS OF KANGAROO MOTHER CARE ON MATERNAL MOOD AND INTERACTION PATTERNS BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR PRETERM, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

ABSTRACT The birth of a premature infant can have adverse effects on the mood of mothers and on the interaction patterns between parents and their preterm babies. The aim of the present systematic review was to examine whether the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) intervention can attenuate these adverse psychological effects of a premature birth by ameliorating negative maternal mood and/or promoting more positive interactions between preterm infants and their parents. The results showed that although findings of studies were inconclusive, there is some evidence to suggest that KMC can make a positive difference on these areas. Specifically, it was found that KMC can improve negative maternal mood (e.g., anxiety or depression) and promote more positive parent–child interactions. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.