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THE EFFECTS OF KANGAROO CARE ON THE NEURODEVELOPMENT OF PRETERM INFANTS IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU)

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Date Issued:
2016
Abstract/Description:
Preterm birth disrupts the development of the brain and other critical organs of the infant body. Since the brain is one of the last organs to finish developing during pregnancy, the risk for substantial neurological deficits increases as the gestational age decreases. One way to combat these deficits is to reconnect the preterm infant with the mother via skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care (KC). This intimate touch helps to replicate aspects of the environment that the preterm infant experienced in utero. The purpose of this literature review was to analyze the current literature to better understand the effects that KC may have on facilitating neurodevelopment of preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Emphasis was placed on neurophysiologic functioning, autonomic functioning, and neurobehavioral functioning. A database search of CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition was conducted, and a total of six articles were reviewed based on their relevance and application towards this thesis. KC is a low-cost, relatively easy intervention to initiate that can have positive impacts on many aspects of preterm infant growth and maturation. There is limited research regarding the use of KC as an intervention to support neurodevelopment, especially with regards to long-term effects. Existing research supports the use of KC as an intervention to facilitate neurodevelopment in preterm infants in the NICU.
Title: THE EFFECTS OF KANGAROO CARE ON THE NEURODEVELOPMENT OF PRETERM INFANTS IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU).
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Name(s): Sarg, Tiffany, Author
Quelly, Susan, Committee Chair
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2016
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Preterm birth disrupts the development of the brain and other critical organs of the infant body. Since the brain is one of the last organs to finish developing during pregnancy, the risk for substantial neurological deficits increases as the gestational age decreases. One way to combat these deficits is to reconnect the preterm infant with the mother via skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care (KC). This intimate touch helps to replicate aspects of the environment that the preterm infant experienced in utero. The purpose of this literature review was to analyze the current literature to better understand the effects that KC may have on facilitating neurodevelopment of preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Emphasis was placed on neurophysiologic functioning, autonomic functioning, and neurobehavioral functioning. A database search of CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition was conducted, and a total of six articles were reviewed based on their relevance and application towards this thesis. KC is a low-cost, relatively easy intervention to initiate that can have positive impacts on many aspects of preterm infant growth and maturation. There is limited research regarding the use of KC as an intervention to support neurodevelopment, especially with regards to long-term effects. Existing research supports the use of KC as an intervention to facilitate neurodevelopment in preterm infants in the NICU.
Identifier: CFH2000010 (IID), ucf:45577 (fedora)
Note(s): 2016-05-01
B.S.N.
College of Nursing, Nursing
Bachelors
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Kangaroo Care
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Neurodevelopment
Preterm Infant
Infant Development
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000010
Restrictions on Access: public
Host Institution: UCF

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