Neurodevelopment and Associated Factors in Preterm Infants Who Received Kangaroo Mother Care: A 12-Month Follow-Up.

AIM: Document the predictive factors for neurodevelopment up to the corrected age of 12 months for infants who received Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).

METHODS

In total, 91 preterm infants and their 78 mothers were included in the study. Maternal symptoms, maternal compliance with KMC practices and infant characteristics and development were recorded.

RESULTS

Compared with formula and mixed milk, breast milk was associated with better developmental outcomes in locomotor (ß = 19.38, t = 4.21, p < 0.001), personal-social (ß = 19.39, t = 5.43, p < 0.001), hearing and speech (ß = 14.1, t = 3.6, p < 0.001), eye and hand coordination (ß = 17.31, t = 4.53, p < 0.001) and performance (ß = 11.21, t = 2.77, p = 0.006) subscales of the Griffith Mental Development Scales. However, the daily skin-to-skin contact (SSC) duration was negatively related to the locomotor (ß = -5.17, t = -2.04, p = 0.046), personal-social (ß = -4.92, t = -2.85, p = 0.007), hearing and speech (ß = -4.88, t = -2.63, p = 0.012), eye and hand coordination (ß = -4.77, t = -2.43, p = 0.018), and performance (ß = -5.67, t = -2.92, p = 0.007) subscales. The negative effect of SSC duration was moderated by the severity of maternal depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Promoting breast milk and treating maternal depression could contribute to positive neurodevelopment in preterm infants.