Start, duration of kangaroo position in preterm newborns and neuropsychomotor development at six and twelve months of corrected age

• Published in: Journal of neonatal nursing : JNN 2024-12, Vol.30 (6), p.643-648
• Main Authors: de Freitas, Nathália Faria, Nunes, Cynthia Ribeiro do Nascimento, Rodrigues, Thalyta Magalhães, Magalhães, Lívia de Castro, Lana, Kely Cristine Aparecida Fonseca, Dias, Samuel Henrique Barbosa, Machado, Marcia Gomes Penido, Bouzada, Maria Candida Ferrarez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child neurodevelopment; Infant; Kangaroo position; Preterm newborn
• ISSN: 1355-1841
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnn.2024.03.005

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the start and duration time of kangaroo position on motor and cognitive development at 6 and 12 months of gestationally corrected age in preterm infants born younger than 32 weeks of gestational age. This is an observational and longitudinal study carried out with 130 children at six months and 106 at twelve months of gestationally corrected age, born at a gestational age less than and equal to 32 weeks. The early start of kangaroo position (p = 0.039) was associated with better cognitive development at 6 months (p = 0.046) and 12 months of corrected gestational age (p = 0.004) and the children who remained in kangaroo position for longer periods of time per day (p = 0.036) showed better motor development at 12 months of gestational age. Starting the kangaroo position early and performing it for longer periods of time per day are practices that favor the neurodevelopment of preterm children.