Effect of kangaroo mother care on cerebral oxygenation, physiological parameters, and comfort levels in late-premature infants: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To measure the effects kangaroo mother care (KMC) on the regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂) measured with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in premature infants and to study the physiological stability and comfort of the infants during such interventions.

Design: This was a prospective, single-centered, single-blind, 2-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted.

Settings: The study was carried out in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in Medical Faculty Hospital in Konya/Turkey.

Participants: Premature infants born between 24 and 36⁺⁶ weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: kangaroo care (n = 20) and control groups (n = 20). The rSO₂, oxygen saturation (%SpO₂), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, body temperature, and comfort levels of the infants were evaluated in three stages.

Findings: In the 60th min measurement of the intervention group, rSO₂, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and, comfort level, the comfort level was found to be higher and significant in the 30th and 60th min measurements (p < 0.001). In the intervention group, the rSO₂ (p < 0.001), body temperature (p < 0.001), HR (p < 0.001), SpO₂ (p < 0.001), respiratory rate (p < 0.001), and comfort levels (p < 0.001) scores with the control group and the group × time interaction was significant.

Key conclusions: KMC moderately increased the rSO₂ levels and also created a moderate effect size on the physiological parameters and comfort levels of the newborns, which implicates its short-term benefits for premature infants.

Practice implications: KMC may be beneficial in stabilizing rSO₂ and physiological parameters and increasing comfort in premature infants. The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT04725435).