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Comparative Study
. 2013 Nov;30(10):875-80.
doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1333675. Epub 2013 Jan 28.

Maternal and neonatal nurse perceived value of kangaroo mother care and maternal care partnership in the neonatal intensive care unit

Karen D Hendricks-Muñoz  1 , Yihong Li, Yang S Kim, Carol C Prendergast, Roslyn Mayers, Moi Louie
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Maternal and neonatal nurse perceived value of kangaroo mother care and maternal care partnership in the neonatal intensive care unit

Karen D Hendricks-Muñoz et al. Am J Perinatol. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) enhances infant and maternal well-being and requires maternal-care partnerships (MCP) for implementation.

Objective: To examine maternal and neonatal nurse provider perspectives on the value of KMC and MCP.

Study design: Prospective cohort design of neonatal nurses and mothers of preterm infants self-report anonymous questionnaire. Analyses of categorical independent variables and continuous variables were calculated.

Results: In all, 82.3% of nurses (42) and 100% (143) of mothers participated in the survey. compared with 18% of nurses, 63% of mothers believed "KMC should be provided daily" and 90% of mothers compared with 40% of nurses strongly believed "mothers should be partners in care." In addition, 61% of nonwhite mothers identified that "KMC was not something they were told they could do for their infant" compared with 39% of white mothers. Nonwhite and foreign-born nurses were 2.8 and 3.1 times more likely to encourage MCP and KMC.

Conclusion: Mothers held strong positive perceptions of KMC and MCP value compared with nurses. Nonwhite mothers perceived they received less education and access to KMC. Barriers to KMC and MCP exist among nurses, though less in nonwhite, foreign-born, and/or nurses with their own children, identifying important provider educational opportunities to improve maternal KMC access in the NICU.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Nurses’ and mothers’ beliefs related to parents role in the NICU. Nurses and mothers strongly agreed in responses to questions on parental roles. Statistical significance: **p < 0.01. Abbreviation: NICU, neonatal intensive care unit.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Nurses’ and mothers’ beliefs related to KMC in the NICU. Nurses and mothers strongly agreed in responses to survey questions on KMC. Statistical significance: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Abbreviation: KMC, Kangaroo Mother Care.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mothers’ beliefs of KMC provision based on racial and ethnic background. Mothers strongly agreed in responses to survey questions on KMC beliefs. Statistical significance: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Abbreviations: KMC, Kangaroo Mother Care; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Mothers’ beliefs of KMC and maternal care partnership based on maternal place of birth background. Mothers strongly agreed in responses to survey questions on KMC and care partnership beliefs. Statistical significance: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Abbreviations: KMC, Kangaroo Mother Care; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit.
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