What is the evidence on the benefits and outcomes of kangaroo care (aka skin to skin care) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

Five articles were found in PubMed that are either a systematic review or meta-analysis.

Conde-Agudelo A, Belizán JM, Diaz-Rossello J. Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Aug 23;(8):CD002771. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002771.pub4.

McCall EM, Alderdice F, Halliday HL, Jenkins JG, Vohra S. Interventions to prevent hypothermia at birth in preterm and/or low birthweight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Mar 17;(3):CD004210.

Renfrew MJ, Craig D, Dyson L, McCormick F, Rice S, King SE, Misso K, Stenhouse E, Williams AF. Breastfeeding promotion for infants in neonatal units: a systematic review and economic analysis. Health Technol Assess. 2009 Aug;13(40):1-146, iii-iv.

McInnes RJ, Chambers J. Infants admitted to neonatal units–interventions to improve breastfeeding outcomes: a systematic review 1990-2007. Matern Child Nutr. 2008 Oct;4(4):235-63.

Smith KM. Sleep and kangaroo care: clinical practice in the newborn intensive care unit: where the baby sleeps…J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2007 Apr-Jun;21(2):151-7.

A search within Joanna Briggs for “kangaroo mother care low birth” will find the following two items.

Kangaroo Mother Care: Low Birth Weight Infants. [Recommended Practices]. AN: JBI6047. Year of Publication: 2013.

Hitch, Danielle. Kangaroo Mother Care: Low Birth Weight Infants. [Evidence Summaries]. AN: JBI6046. Year of Publication: 2013.

Updated link to Cochrane systematic review 10/12/2017 ldt

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About Lisa

I have been a Clinical Informationist (aka Medical Librarian) for Emory University since September 2013. Prior to that, I was a Medical Librarian for Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) from March 2007 to August 2013 and served its DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM), Caylor School of Nursing, and allied health programs. From January 2002 - March 2007, I served the Medical Assisting (MA), Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapy Assistant, Radiologic Technologist, and Nursing programs at South College in Knoxville, Tennessee. I graduated from The University of Tennessee School of Information Sciences with a Master of Science degree in December 2000. Received a Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in Educational Administration and Supervision with a higher education focus in August 2010 from LMU.

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