الفهرس 
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Abstract
Most studies proved that kangaroo care has a major, positive impact on babies and their parents. Although some studies have proven that there is no change, however no study had proven that kangaroo care has hurt either parent or neonate.
This study is a descriptive comparative design that aimed to assess mother’s perception about kangaroo technique, implement kangaroo technique on hospitalized preterm newborns and evaluate the outcome of kangaroo technique on mother-baby attachment.
The study was conducted in three sites:
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Ain Shams Obstetric and Gynecology University Hospital.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of El Monira General Hospital.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Obstetric and Gynecology University Department of El Manial university Hospital.
The subjects consisted of two hundred mothers who delivered premature babies weighing from 1.000 up to 2.500 gms, free from congenital anomalies, heart diseases, surgical disorders, neonatal jaundice, hypoxia ischemic insult, or large for gestational age and not on assisted ventilator support.
The subjects have been divided into two equal groups the experimental group included mothers who agreed to participate and implement the kangaroo care, while the control group included those whose babies had been subjected to the routine care of the intensive care unit.
The methodology consisted of: A tool for data collection in the form of an interviewing questionnaire sheet to assess mothers’ knowledge about kangaroo and its benefits as well as the technique for kangaroo care; an attitude rating scale to assess mother’s attitude toward kangaroo care; a step by step technique for implementation of kangaroo, and follow up for each neonate weight gain/week for one month.
The purpose of the study was explained to each mother on individual basis.
Results of this study revealed that: At the beginning, there was no statistically significant difference between the weight of the experimental and the control groups before the implementation of kangaroo care technique, but after its implementation for the experimental group there was a highly statistically significant weight gain in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks compared to the control group which proved to which extent the implementation of kangaroo care technique had an influence on the neonates’ weight gain.
After one month follow up the mean weight for the experimental neonate was 2023.80 ± 449.11 gms versus 1748.65 ± 428.7 gms for the control group (t=4.384 at 0.0000).
Statistically significant differences in mother’s knowledge about kangaroo care, its benefits and technique between before and after its implementation especially as the mothers observed the rapid weight gain of their neonates.
Before the implementation of kangaroo mother care technique 58% of the mothers disagreed to apply the technique, while 42% of them were indifferent. However, after the application 90% of the same mothers strongly agreed to apply the technique.
Slightly more than three quarters (76%) of mothers believed that kangaroo care will expose their neonates to health problems but post implementation, all of them (100%) strongly agreed that kangaroo care caused no harm.
At the beginning of the study, 72% of the mothers did not accept the idea that application of kangaroo will enhance their bond to their neonates but at the end of the study all of them (100%) saw, felt and accepted the idea.
The majority (82%) of the mothers did not believe that bonding and attachment between them and her babies can increase milk production, however after application of kangaroo care technique, 68% of them strongly agreed and 32% agreed.
At the start of the study, the highest percentage of mothers did not accept the idea that kangaroo care will decrease the level of depression as result of the barrier between the neonate and the mother, that kangaroo care will decrease pain sensation for the neonate, will increase his sleep hours and improve sleep pattern that it would help in weight gain. Additionally, it would keep neonate’s body temperature within normal range. After the implementation of the technique and follow up after one month the majority of the mothers (100%) accepts the idea and was able to apply it.
The study concluded that before implementation of kangaroo care technique, the highest percentage of mothers for both experimental and control groups had defective knowledge regarding to the meaning of kangaroo care, its benefits for their neonates and for them. They were unable to illustrate the steps for kangaroo care technique. After the implementation there was a high statistically significant difference between experimental group who implemented the technique and followed it step by step and the control group who received the routine neonatal care.
There was a highly statistically significant difference between neonatal weight gain in the experimental and control groups which proved to what extent the implementation of kangaroo care technique had a positive impact on weight gain.
There was a high statistically significant difference between the attitude of the mothers before and after the implementation of kangaroo care technique step by step with the help of the researcher which proved to what extend the technique had increased the mothers and their neonates’ attachment.
Therefore, the following recommendations are suggested:
- The application of kangaroo care technique as a routine care for all premature, low birth weight babies admitted to NICUs.
- Distribution of an illustrated leaflet supported with step by step kangaroo care technique to all neonatal intensive care units all over the country to be followed by neonatal intensive care staff and adopted in the hospital protocol for neonatal care.
- Establishment of a training course for health care providers on the importance of implementation and benefits of kangaroo care technique.