Mother’s experience with the kangaroo method at home: A systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review evaluated the barriers and facilitators of implementing Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) at home based on mothers' experiences with preterm and/or low birth weight newborns. The systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Scielo, Embase, Virtual Health Library, and CAPES Periodicals Portal. Eleven original articles published between 2013 and 2023 were included. Factors associated with maintaining KMC at home included family support, maternal understanding of the method and biological characteristics. Factors that influenced the discontinuation of the method included lack of family support, insufficient knowledge about the method, difficulty in balancing KMC with household chores, perception of improvement in the infant's health, deficiencies in health services, lack of an adequate home environment, maternal health conditions, and specific behaviors of the baby. This review permits the conclusion that although KMC is conceptually a simple strategy, its maintenance involves complex relationships and requires a robust support network.