Benefits of the Kangaroo Method for the Family and the Premature Newborn: An Integrative Review

Abstract

The birth of a premature or low birth weight newborn (NB) mobilizes the family and demands physical, emotional, and social adaptations. Therefore, neonatal units must adopt therapeutic strategies that reduce hospitalization complications and promote comprehensive care for at-risk newborns and their families. The Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method stands out as a care approach that favors early and continuous skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. This study aims to identify the benefits of the method for the family and the newborn through an integrative literature review. This is a qualitative research study, selecting primary studies published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, excluding those that did not answer the guiding question. The findings demonstrate that KMC is a broad strategy that goes beyond the physical development of the newborn, positively impacting family dynamics and the mental health of parents. Evidence points to a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety, strengthening of family bonds, improvement in maternal interaction and sensitivity, as well as encouraging co-responsibility and participation of the support network. Thus, the importance of adopting the MC as a family-centered care model is reinforced.