Abstract

Problem: Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in about 10-15% of women after birth and adversely affects their health and the health of their newborn. Kangaroo care (KC) is known to have many health-related benefits for both mother and newborn; however, a systematic review of its effects in reducing PPD has not been done.

Purpose: The aim of this review was to gather the evidence linking the effects of KC on PPD, specifically focusing on the proposed underlying mechanism involving the release of oxytocin.

Search Strategy: The review included studies published between 1995 and 2015. Data sources were: PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Search terms included: postpartum depression, postnatal depression, oxytocin, oxytocin hormone, central oxytocin, postpartum depression, kangaroo care, and skin-to-skin contact.

Results of literature search: Twenty studies met the search criteria and were included in this review. Most of the studies used descriptive correlational designs; four involved randomized controlled trials; other studies were quasi- experimental, qualitative, or involved meta-analysis.

Author Details

Hanan A. Badr, PhD Candidate, MSN, RN; Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN

Sigma Membership

Alpha Mu

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Literature Review

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Depression, Post-partum, Post-partum Nursing, Kangaroo Care, Postpartum Depression

Conference Name

MNRS Annual Research Conference

Conference Host

Midwest Nursing Research Society

Conference Location

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Conference Year

2016

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Peer-review: Single Blind

Acquisition

Self-submission

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Kangaroo care and postpartum depression: The role of oxytocin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Problem: Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in about 10-15% of women after birth and adversely affects their health and the health of their newborn. Kangaroo care (KC) is known to have many health-related benefits for both mother and newborn; however, a systematic review of its effects in reducing PPD has not been done.

Purpose: The aim of this review was to gather the evidence linking the effects of KC on PPD, specifically focusing on the proposed underlying mechanism involving the release of oxytocin.

Search Strategy: The review included studies published between 1995 and 2015. Data sources were: PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Search terms included: postpartum depression, postnatal depression, oxytocin, oxytocin hormone, central oxytocin, postpartum depression, kangaroo care, and skin-to-skin contact.

Results of literature search: Twenty studies met the search criteria and were included in this review. Most of the studies used descriptive correlational designs; four involved randomized controlled trials; other studies were quasi- experimental, qualitative, or involved meta-analysis.