Skin-to-Skin Contact. Are we doing enough?

Abstract

Skin-to-Skin Contact (SSC) (also known as kangaroo care) is a fundamental aspect of neonatal care globally for both term and preterm infants. Yet there seem to be barriers to facilitating this in clinical practice, some of these barriers will be explored in this article. This article will explore the practice of SSC in the UK, Rwanda, Zambia and Saudi Arabia. Education is crucial to support and enhance clinical practice. The use of simulation to improve confidence and knowledge when initiating SSC for a preterm ventilated baby was a useful learning activity that has increased confidence. The benefits of SSC are well known internationally by healthcare professionals. Overall, the reasons/barriers for not facilitating SSC seem to be very similar in the UK and internationally. This shows that there is a requirement for further education and training globally. As much as we consider SSC as a simple practice, there are times when this cannot be as easy as expected. Low staffing levels play a major part in the UK and internationally, with patient safety being a top priority. If more staff were available, would SSC be encouraged more? Further research is required into the barriers to SSC and parental knowledge of SSC. Will the recommended continuous or even the minimum 8 hours per day of SSC ever be achievable globally?