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Attachment formation between parents/pre-term newborns and/or low birth weigth children using the kangaroo mother method: a contribution to nursing

This is a report of a Convergent-supportive research study that had has its objective to identify and to analyze the promoting and complicating aspects of the bond formation process between parents and premature and/or low birth weight children using the practice of the Kangaroo Mother Method. The study was conducted at the neonatal unit of a university hospital with three couples and four newborns from July of 2005 through February of 2006. The analysis consisted of information gathering, summarization, theorization, and the transferring processes. The results indicated that the main promoting factors were: adequate pre-natal preparedness, comforting at the birth moment, and active participation during the neonatal daily routine. They indicated as complicating factors the ambiguity of feelings, a lack of comprehension about the neonatal child's immaturity, and the complex demands of caring for a baby. The nurse's role is pointed out as the articulator and tutor during the caring and attachment process of parent-child during this method.

Neonatal nursing; Premature infant; Nursing care; Family relations


Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem Campus Universitário Trindade, 88040-970 Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brasil, Tel.: (55 48) 3721-4915 / (55 48) 3721-9043 - Florianópolis - SC - Brazil
E-mail: textoecontexto@contato.ufsc.br