The effectiveness of kangaroo mother's care (KMC) method of low birth weight infants on maternal adjustment

Maternal adjustment process after giving birth is naturally a challenge، especially in a premature birth with low weight that can make some other problems too. Previously to take care of such infants، traditional methods like Incubator were used، but nowadays Kangaroo Maternal Care (KMC) method has been introduced and this study aims to determine the effectiveness of KMC method of low weigh infants on adaptation of Isfahanian mothers in 2009. The research method was a clinical trial in which pre-test، post -test and a control group were used. Therefore، 60 mothers -20 to 41 years old- were selected by multistage sampling and were randomly assigned in experimental and control groups. Infants of experimental group were exposed to KMC method for 22 days and also control group infants received other caring methods for about 26 days. To collect data and measure the maternal adjustment، Bell Adjustment Questionnaire was used which is confirmed to be reliable and valid. The data were analyzed with statistical method of covariance analysis using SPSS v. 17 software. The mean age of mothers in experimental group was 28. 4 and in control group it was 25. 8. Also the mean birth weight of infants in experimental and control groups were 2. 1 & 2. 13 respectively. The results showed that there is a significant difference between the performance of experimental and control groups in Bell Adjustment Questionnaire، and also between the two groups in health and emotional adjustment scale (P<0. 001). So the mothers of KMC group had a better performance. Although no significant difference was observed in social adjustment scale (P<0. 23)، job compatibility (P<0. 67)، and fitness at home (P<0. 09). According to the results، it can be said that Kangaroo Mother’s Care method increases the adjustment of mothers after giving birth of premature infants. Therefore KMC as a useful caring method is suggested in provision of mental health of mothers and newborn babies with low weight.