Journal article
The Impact of Kangaroo Care on Premature Infant Weight Gain
Journal of pediatric nursing, v 34, pp e10-e16
May 2017
PMID: 28292543
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Preterm births occur among 11.4% of all live infant births. Without steady weight gain, premature infants may experience lengthy hospitalizations, neurodevelopmental deficits and hospital readmissions, which can increase the financial burden on the health care system and their families. The total U.S. health-related costs linked to preterm infant deliveries are estimated at $4.33 billion. Kangaroo care is a feasible practice that can improve preterm infant weight gain. However, this intervention is utilized less often throughout the U.S. due to numerous barriers including a lack of consistent protocols, inadequate knowledge, and decreased level of confidence in demonstrating the proper kangarooing technique. An integrative review was conducted to evaluate the impact of kangaroo care on premature infant weight gain in order to educate nurses about its efficacy among preterm infants.
A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, ClinicalKey and Google Scholar. Large volume searches were restricted using appropriate filters and limiters.
Most of the evaluated studies determined that weight gain was greater among the kangarooing premature infants. Kangaroo care is a low-tech low-cost modality that can facilitate improved preterm infant weight gain even in low-resource settings. Despite its current efficacy, kangaroo care is not widely utilized due to several barriers including an absence of standardized protocols and a lack of knowledge about its benefits. Kangaroo care can become a widespread formalized practice after nurses and parents learn about the technique and its numerous benefits for premature infants, including its association with improved weight gain.
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Details
- Title
- The Impact of Kangaroo Care on Premature Infant Weight Gain
- Creators
- Melvina Evereklian - Drexel UniversityBobbie Posmontier - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of pediatric nursing, v 34, pp e10-e16
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]; College of Nursing and Health Professions
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000426246600002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85014849312
- Other Identifier
- 991022041458304721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Nursing
- Pediatrics