BENEFITS OF THE KANGAROO METHOD IN CARE FOR PREMATURE NEWBORNS

Abstract

Introduction: The kangaroo method (KM) begins in high-risk prenatal care and continues in the neonatal intensive care unit. It consists of a care model in which the baby is born prematurely, at less than 37 weeks and weighing less than 2.5 kg, and will need skin-to-skin contact with the mother or caregiver in order to gain weight. Furthermore, it is worth noting that in order to prevent prematurity, it is necessary to provide quality prenatal care and to observe whether the baby has risk factors that influence the pregnancy, such as smoking, drug use, and alcohol. Furthermore, we can state that, as it is a humanized care strategy, it requires specialized care. Objective: to discuss the benefits of the kangaroo method in care for premature newborns. Methodology: The research was an integrative review of the literature, based on the following guiding question: what are the benefits of the kangaroo method in care for premature newborns? Data collection took place between July and August of this year, using the Virtual Health Library (VHL) database, through the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs) and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) databases. The following descriptors were used in health sciences (Decs): humanization, kangaroo method, premature newborn and weight gain, combined with the Boolean operator AND. The inclusion criteria adopted were: articles published between 2019 and 2024, available in Portuguese and English, free of charge, that addressed the topic and were available in full. Duplicate articles, articles in Spanish, monographs, incomplete articles, dissertations and those that deviated from the project proposal were excluded. The data were presented through charts and tables, being compared with the available literature. Results and discussion: The Kangaroo Method offers benefits in several areas of neonatal development, in addition to strengthening the bond between the mother, father and newborn. The benefits are not limited to the newborn, but also have a positive impact on the family. Among the main benefits cited are: weight gain, temperature control, reduced respiratory rate, strengthening of the bond between parents and child, greater autonomy of parents in care, growth and development, reduced hospitalization time and encouragement of breastfeeding. Knowledge about these benefits can promote changes in the performance of health professionals, especially nurses, contributing to improved results in the care of newborns. Conclusion: Therefore, the Kangaroo Method is effective in the recovery of premature newborns, providing benefits such as weight gain, temperature control, strengthening of family bonds and encouragement of breastfeeding.