The Impact of Kangaroo-Mother Care on Postpartum Depression in Mothers of Premature Infants

Abstract

Objectives: Postpartum depression is a serious problem with considerable effect on the mother and infant's health, being more common in mothers of preterm infants. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) method is a cheap and convenient way to take better care of premature neonates. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of KMC on the incidence of postpartum depression in mothers of preterm infants. Materials and Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 60 mothers of premature infants who were hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Tabriz Al-Zahra hospital, were selected. All the mothers gave birth through caesarean section and carried out KMC. Mothers were divided in to 2 groups: mothers with 3 times or more/day KMC and those with less KMC. All mothers were required to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) on the 10th, 20th and 30th days after the delivery. The changes in mothers' depression scale were evaluated. Results: There was no obvious difference between the 2 groups in terms of EPDS scores on the 10th day (P = 0.07). However, there was significant difference on the 20th and 30th days (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, it can be concluded that depression in mothers with KMC decreased during follow-up time. In fact, KMC is associated with a predictive effect on postpartum depression.