Neurodevelopment and Associated Factors in Preterm Infants Who Received Kangaroo Mother Care: A 12‐Month Follow‐Up

AIM: Document the predictive factors for neurodevelopment up to the corrected age of 12 months for infants who received Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). METHODS: In total, 91 preterm infants and their 78 mothers were included in the study. Maternal symptoms, maternal compliance with KMC practices and infant characteristics and development were recorded. RESULTS: Compared with formula and mixed milk, breast milk was associated with better developmental outcomes in locomotor (ß = 19.38, t = 4.21, p < 0.001), personal-social (ß = 19.39, t = 5.43, p < 0.001), hearing and speech (ß = 14.1, t = 3.6, p < 0.001), eye and hand coordination (ß = 17.31, t = 4.53, p < 0.001) and performance (ß = 11.21, t = 2.77, p = 0.006) subscales of the Griffith Mental Development Scales. However, the daily skin-to-skin contact (SSC) duration was negatively related to the locomotor (ß = -5.17, t = -2.04, p = 0.046), personal-social (ß = -4.92, t = -2.85, p = 0.007), hearing and speech (ß = -4.88, t = -2.63, p = 0.012), eye and hand coordination (ß = -4.77, t = -2.43, p = 0.018), and performance (ß = -5.67, t = -2.92, p = 0.007) subscales. The negative effect of SSC duration was moderated by the severity of maternal depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Promoting breast milk and treating maternal depression could contribute to positive neurodevelopment in preterm infants.