Table 3 Results of the systematic review

Flórez Meza et al., 2023 [22]

30 preterm newborns between 28 weeks and 36 + 6 weeks, or with a weight under 2500 g.

Descriptive retrospective study.

To determine the weight gain of preterm and/or low birth weight infants who participated in the Kangaroo Mother Method (KMC). Program until 40 weeks of post-conceptional age.

By the end of 40 weeks of post-conceptional age, 90% of the infants were exclusively breastfed; additionally, only 20% of the infants in the KMC program did not achieve adequate weight gain.

Foong et al., 2023 [15]

Parents of preterm infants who experienced KMC.

Qualitative study with key informant interviews.

To identify potential solutions for the development of relevant interventions to improve the adoption of KMC and make the practice routine for all infants.

Findings indicate more significant newborn weight gain, stronger parent-infant bonding, and earlier hospital discharge in cases where KMC was adopted.

Muttau et al., 2022 [18]

573 newborns, divided into three groups based on birth weight (< 1500 g; 1500–2499 g; ≥2500 g).

Prospective descriptive study.

To reduce neonatal mortality in preterm infants, a stepped-wedge design was used, including KMC.

KMC positively impacted weight gain in newborns, with an average weight gain of 30 g per day.

Cristobal Canadas et al., 2022 [18]

112 preterm newborns. Two groups were compared based on the daily average duration of KMC over 12 days.

Cohort study.

To estimate the effect of KMC on physiological and biochemical stress parameters in preterm infants and maternal stress in neonatal intensive care units.

KMC for more than 90 min daily in preterm infants during the first two weeks of life significantly decreased maternal and neonatal blood cortisol levels, improved weight gain, contributed to improving infants’ physiological constants, and mitigated maternal postpartum depression.

Liu et al., 2022 [20]

8240 infants, of whom 2093 (25.4%) received KMC.

Observational study.

To examine the sustainability of KMC as a practice over a 12-month period and the characteristics of preterm infants who received it.

Follow-up weights of preterm infants who continued with KMC after discharge were significantly higher compared to those who did not continue with the practice, especially in younger gestational age groups.

Pandya et al., 2021 [14]

192 neonates with a gestational age ≤ 34 weeks and birth weight ≤ 1250 g.

Prospective cohort study was conducted with two groups: one with routine care without KMC and another with KMC care.

To evaluate whether the early initiation of KMC is safe and reduces the time to full feeding in preterm neonates.

Food intolerance and duration of parenteral nutrition were decreased significantly, and discharge weight significantly improved in the group that received KMC.

Cantanhede et al., 2020 [16]

Mothers aged 18 to 45 years of preterm infants.

Qualitative exploratory descriptive study. Data were analyzed using collective subject discourse.

To describe mothers’ experiences in caring for preterm infants using the kangaroo method.

Mothers acknowledged that this method significantly benefits their infants, such as improved immune systems, emotional bonding, weight gain, and temperature control.

Aldana Acosta et al., 2019 [17]

Cohort of 66 infants with a gestational age between 30 and 33 weeks.

Randomized clinical trial with weight gain measurements (g/kg/day) at 5 and 15 days and 4 weeks.

To evaluate early growth in preterm infants receiving kinesthetic stimulation with massage in kangaroo position or in an incubator.

Daily weight gain was significantly higher with kinesthetic stimulation in the kangaroo position, showing growth of 11.0 g/kg/day at 5 days and 12.1 g/kg/day at 15 days, compared to 2.1 g/kg/day and 9.4 g/kg/day in the incubator. Early kinesthetic stimulation in the kangaroo position reduces initial weight loss in infants born at 30–33 weeks without major health issues.

Shattnawi & Al-Ali., 2019 [21]

89 preterm newborns.

Quasi-experimental study with experimental and control groups.

To evaluate the effect of short-term skin-to-skin contact on short-term physiological and behavioral outcomes.

Newborns in the experimental group (skin-to-skin contact) showed a higher daily weight gain (32.6 g vs. 53.7 g) compared to the control group, which received routine care in an incubator.