LAUSR

AIM To compare the effect of maternal and paternal Kangaroo care (KC) on vital signs and cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) parameters. METHODS This randomized study included 35 preterm infants born at 32 weeks gestation or earlier. The body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation (sPO2), and cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) were measured at the postnatal 35 th week of gestation during three periods: in the incubator before kangaroo care (KC), during KC with the mother or father, and in the incubator after kangaroo care. The measured parameters of the three periods were compared within each group (mother or father) and between the groups (mother and father). The p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the vital signs during the three periods, both for the mother and father. When we compared the vital signs between the parents, there was also no statistically significant difference. We found that rSO2 values increased significantly both in the mother (p<0.001) and the father (p<0.001) during and after KC. When we compared the rSO2 values obtained from the mother and father, we found that rSO2 values were significantly higher during (p=0.015) and after (p=0.046) mother KC. CONCLUSION The vital signs were preserved similarly during Kangaroo mother care (M-KC) and Kangaroo father care (F-KC). Although it was demonstrated that rSO2 values increased significantly during and after KC in both groups, this increase was significantly higher in the M-KC group. The finding that cerebral rSO2 values were within normal limits in the F-KC group, despite being lower compared to the M-KC group, also supports the benefit of the father's involvement in KC.