Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg

Titus Kipchumba Tarus; Adele Agatha Tjale

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18

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Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg

Titus Kipchumba Tarus, Adele Agatha Tjale

Received: 26 June 2015 Accepted: 8 July 2015 Published: 17 July 2015

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Abstract

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) implies placing the newborn pre-term baby in intimate skin-to-skin contact with the mother's chest and abdomen coupled with frequent and preferably exclusive breast-feeding. This is similar to marsupial care-giving, where the premature baby is kept warm in the maternal pouch and close to the breasts for unlimited feeding. KMC has emerged as a non-conventional low cost method for newborn care that provides warmth, touch, and security to the newborn and is believed to confer significant survival benefit. The purpose of this study was to understand the mothers lived experience and perception towards 24-hour Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) during hospitalization of their preterm babies. Phenomenological study methods were applied through in-depth unstructured interviews, on purposefully selected participants. Their lived experience was analyzed using Collaizzi’s steps to phenomenological data analysis. Data analysis revealed three major themes: (a) “it is a bond between me and my child” (b) nurse-parent interaction, and (c) “it is tiring and exhaustive”. The study found that all the mothers in spite of exhaustion, reported high level of satisfaction with KMC because it allowed them to be closer to their babies, hence giving them the opportunity to observe their growth and became fully involved in the care. The excellent nurse-mothers’ interaction reinforced the KMC concept in care of preterm babies and was rated significant in the transition period of motherhood. The interaction enabled mothers to shift from passive observers to active participants in the care of the preterm babies. KMC was additionally noted to have provided a comforting and warm environment for the babies, thus enabling them to grow faster via weight gains and this in turn increased maternal satisfaction. Recommendation for further research preferably using quantitative methods to establish relationship between production of breast milk and the use of KMC is envisaged. The principle of 24-hour KMC should also be incorporated and emphasized in all levels of preterm baby care hospitals and educational training as this practice has been found to have numerous benefits both to the mothers and to their preterm babies.

DOI	10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18
Published in	American Journal of Nursing Science (Volume 4, Issue 4, August 2015)
Page(s)	200-206
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Preterm Babies, Kangaroo Mother Care, Hospitalized, Lived Experience

References

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[4]	Mokhachane M, Saloojee H, Cooper P. Earlier discharge of very low birth weight infants from an under-resourced African hospital: a randomized trial. Annals of Tropical Pediatrics, 2006; 26: 43–51.
[5]	Charpak N, Ruiz-Pelaez J.G, Figueroa Z. Influence of feeding patterns and other factors on early somatic growth of healthy, preterm infants in home-based kangaroo mother care: a cohort study. Journal of Pediatric, Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, 2005; 41(4): 430-437.
[6]	Ludington-Hoe S.M, Lewis T, Morgan K, Cong X, Anderson L, Reese, S. Breast and infant temperatures with twins during shared kangaroo care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 2006; 35(2): 223-231.
[7]	Roller, C.G. Getting to Know You: Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 2005; 34(2): 210-217.
[8]	Bergman N.J, Linley L.L, Fawcus S.R. Randomized controlled trial of skin to skin contact from birth versus conventional incubator for physiological stabilization in 1200-2199g newborns. ActaPaedriatr, 2004; 93(6): 779-785.
[9]	Feldman R, Eidelman A.I, Sirota L, Weller A. Comparison of Skin-to-Skin (Kangaroo) and traditional care: parenting outcomes and preterm infant development. Pediatrics, 2002; 110(1): 16-26.
[10]	Conde-Agudelo A, Beliza J.M, Diaz-Rosello J. L. Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Mar 16 ; (3):CD002771. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002771.pub2
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[15]	Tessier R, Cristo M, Velez S, Giron S.W, Calume Z.F, Juan G, et al. Kangaroo Mother Care and the Bonding Hypothesis. Pediatrics, 1998; 102(2): e17
[16]	Dodd, V.L. Implications of Kangaroo care for growth and development in preterm infants. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 2005; 34(2): 218-232.
[17]	Melnyk B.M, Feinstein N.F, Alpert-Gillis L, Fairbank S.E, Crean H.F, Sinkin R.A, et al. Reducing premature infants’ length of stay and improving parents’ mental health outcomes with the creating opportunities for parent empowerment (COPE) neonatal intensive care unit program: A randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 2006; 118(5): e1414-e1427.
[18]	Mercer R.T. Nursing Support of the process of becoming a mother, Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 2006; 35(5): 649-651.
[19]	Mercer R.T. & Walker L.O. A review of nursing interventions to foster becoming a mother. Journal of Obstetric, Gynaecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 2006; 35(5): 568-582.
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APA Style

Titus Kipchumba Tarus, Adele Agatha Tjale. (2015). Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. American Journal of Nursing Science, 4(4), 200-206. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18

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ACS Style

Titus Kipchumba Tarus; Adele Agatha Tjale. Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. Am. J. Nurs. Sci. 2015, 4(4), 200-206. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18

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AMA Style

Titus Kipchumba Tarus, Adele Agatha Tjale. Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. Am J Nurs Sci. 2015;4(4):200-206. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18

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@article{10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18,
  author = {Titus Kipchumba Tarus and Adele Agatha Tjale},
  title = {Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg},
  journal = {American Journal of Nursing Science},
  volume = {4},
  number = {4},
  pages = {200-206},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajns.20150404.18},
  abstract = {Kangaroo mother care (KMC) implies placing the newborn pre-term baby in intimate skin-to-skin contact with the mother's chest and abdomen coupled with frequent and preferably exclusive breast-feeding. This is similar to marsupial care-giving, where the premature baby is kept warm in the maternal pouch and close to the breasts for unlimited feeding. KMC has emerged as a non-conventional low cost method for newborn care that provides warmth, touch, and security to the newborn and is believed to confer significant survival benefit. The purpose of this study was to understand the mothers lived experience and perception towards 24-hour Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) during hospitalization of their preterm babies. Phenomenological study methods were applied through in-depth unstructured interviews, on purposefully selected participants. Their lived experience was analyzed using Collaizzi’s steps to phenomenological data analysis. Data analysis revealed three major themes: (a) “it is a bond between me and my child” (b) nurse-parent interaction, and (c) “it is tiring and exhaustive”. The study found that all the mothers in spite of exhaustion, reported high level of satisfaction with KMC because it allowed them to be closer to their babies, hence giving them the opportunity to observe their growth and became fully involved in the care. The excellent nurse-mothers’ interaction reinforced the KMC concept in care of preterm babies and was rated significant in the transition period of motherhood. The interaction enabled mothers to shift from passive observers to active participants in the care of the preterm babies. KMC was additionally noted to have provided a comforting and warm environment for the babies, thus enabling them to grow faster via weight gains and this in turn increased maternal satisfaction. Recommendation for further research preferably using quantitative methods to establish relationship between production of breast milk and the use of KMC is envisaged. The principle of 24-hour KMC should also be incorporated and emphasized in all levels of preterm baby care hospitals and educational training as this practice has been found to have numerous benefits both to the mothers and to their preterm babies.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg
AU  - Titus Kipchumba Tarus
AU  - Adele Agatha Tjale
Y1  - 2015/07/17
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18
T2  - American Journal of Nursing Science
JF  - American Journal of Nursing Science
JO  - American Journal of Nursing Science
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EP  - 206
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5753
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18
AB  - Kangaroo mother care (KMC) implies placing the newborn pre-term baby in intimate skin-to-skin contact with the mother's chest and abdomen coupled with frequent and preferably exclusive breast-feeding. This is similar to marsupial care-giving, where the premature baby is kept warm in the maternal pouch and close to the breasts for unlimited feeding. KMC has emerged as a non-conventional low cost method for newborn care that provides warmth, touch, and security to the newborn and is believed to confer significant survival benefit. The purpose of this study was to understand the mothers lived experience and perception towards 24-hour Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) during hospitalization of their preterm babies. Phenomenological study methods were applied through in-depth unstructured interviews, on purposefully selected participants. Their lived experience was analyzed using Collaizzi’s steps to phenomenological data analysis. Data analysis revealed three major themes: (a) “it is a bond between me and my child” (b) nurse-parent interaction, and (c) “it is tiring and exhaustive”. The study found that all the mothers in spite of exhaustion, reported high level of satisfaction with KMC because it allowed them to be closer to their babies, hence giving them the opportunity to observe their growth and became fully involved in the care. The excellent nurse-mothers’ interaction reinforced the KMC concept in care of preterm babies and was rated significant in the transition period of motherhood. The interaction enabled mothers to shift from passive observers to active participants in the care of the preterm babies. KMC was additionally noted to have provided a comforting and warm environment for the babies, thus enabling them to grow faster via weight gains and this in turn increased maternal satisfaction. Recommendation for further research preferably using quantitative methods to establish relationship between production of breast milk and the use of KMC is envisaged. The principle of 24-hour KMC should also be incorporated and emphasized in all levels of preterm baby care hospitals and educational training as this practice has been found to have numerous benefits both to the mothers and to their preterm babies.
VL  - 4
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Titus Kipchumba Tarus

Nursing department, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
Adele Agatha Tjale

Faculty of Health sciences, Department of Nursing education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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APA Style

Titus Kipchumba Tarus, Adele Agatha Tjale. (2015). Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. American Journal of Nursing Science, 4(4), 200-206. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18

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ACS Style

Titus Kipchumba Tarus; Adele Agatha Tjale. Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. Am. J. Nurs. Sci. 2015, 4(4), 200-206. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18

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AMA Style

Titus Kipchumba Tarus, Adele Agatha Tjale. Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. Am J Nurs Sci. 2015;4(4):200-206. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18

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@article{10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18,
  author = {Titus Kipchumba Tarus and Adele Agatha Tjale},
  title = {Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg},
  journal = {American Journal of Nursing Science},
  volume = {4},
  number = {4},
  pages = {200-206},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajns.20150404.18},
  abstract = {Kangaroo mother care (KMC) implies placing the newborn pre-term baby in intimate skin-to-skin contact with the mother's chest and abdomen coupled with frequent and preferably exclusive breast-feeding. This is similar to marsupial care-giving, where the premature baby is kept warm in the maternal pouch and close to the breasts for unlimited feeding. KMC has emerged as a non-conventional low cost method for newborn care that provides warmth, touch, and security to the newborn and is believed to confer significant survival benefit. The purpose of this study was to understand the mothers lived experience and perception towards 24-hour Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) during hospitalization of their preterm babies. Phenomenological study methods were applied through in-depth unstructured interviews, on purposefully selected participants. Their lived experience was analyzed using Collaizzi’s steps to phenomenological data analysis. Data analysis revealed three major themes: (a) “it is a bond between me and my child” (b) nurse-parent interaction, and (c) “it is tiring and exhaustive”. The study found that all the mothers in spite of exhaustion, reported high level of satisfaction with KMC because it allowed them to be closer to their babies, hence giving them the opportunity to observe their growth and became fully involved in the care. The excellent nurse-mothers’ interaction reinforced the KMC concept in care of preterm babies and was rated significant in the transition period of motherhood. The interaction enabled mothers to shift from passive observers to active participants in the care of the preterm babies. KMC was additionally noted to have provided a comforting and warm environment for the babies, thus enabling them to grow faster via weight gains and this in turn increased maternal satisfaction. Recommendation for further research preferably using quantitative methods to establish relationship between production of breast milk and the use of KMC is envisaged. The principle of 24-hour KMC should also be incorporated and emphasized in all levels of preterm baby care hospitals and educational training as this practice has been found to have numerous benefits both to the mothers and to their preterm babies.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Mothers’ Experiences of Kangaroo Mother Care During Hospitalization of Their Preterm Babies at an Academic Hospital in Johannesburg
AU  - Titus Kipchumba Tarus
AU  - Adele Agatha Tjale
Y1  - 2015/07/17
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18
T2  - American Journal of Nursing Science
JF  - American Journal of Nursing Science
JO  - American Journal of Nursing Science
SP  - 200
EP  - 206
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5753
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150404.18
AB  - Kangaroo mother care (KMC) implies placing the newborn pre-term baby in intimate skin-to-skin contact with the mother's chest and abdomen coupled with frequent and preferably exclusive breast-feeding. This is similar to marsupial care-giving, where the premature baby is kept warm in the maternal pouch and close to the breasts for unlimited feeding. KMC has emerged as a non-conventional low cost method for newborn care that provides warmth, touch, and security to the newborn and is believed to confer significant survival benefit. The purpose of this study was to understand the mothers lived experience and perception towards 24-hour Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) during hospitalization of their preterm babies. Phenomenological study methods were applied through in-depth unstructured interviews, on purposefully selected participants. Their lived experience was analyzed using Collaizzi’s steps to phenomenological data analysis. Data analysis revealed three major themes: (a) “it is a bond between me and my child” (b) nurse-parent interaction, and (c) “it is tiring and exhaustive”. The study found that all the mothers in spite of exhaustion, reported high level of satisfaction with KMC because it allowed them to be closer to their babies, hence giving them the opportunity to observe their growth and became fully involved in the care. The excellent nurse-mothers’ interaction reinforced the KMC concept in care of preterm babies and was rated significant in the transition period of motherhood. The interaction enabled mothers to shift from passive observers to active participants in the care of the preterm babies. KMC was additionally noted to have provided a comforting and warm environment for the babies, thus enabling them to grow faster via weight gains and this in turn increased maternal satisfaction. Recommendation for further research preferably using quantitative methods to establish relationship between production of breast milk and the use of KMC is envisaged. The principle of 24-hour KMC should also be incorporated and emphasized in all levels of preterm baby care hospitals and educational training as this practice has been found to have numerous benefits both to the mothers and to their preterm babies.
VL  - 4
IS  - 4
ER  -

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