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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06953817

The Effect of Kangaroo Care Education on Mother-Infant Bonding, Maternal and Neonatal Comfort

Kangaroo care encompasses early and continuous skin-to-skin contact, frequent and regular breastfeeding, early discharge from the hospital, and other supportive care practices necessary for the infant . Through kangaroo care, the transition of newborns from intrauterine to extrauterine life is facilitated, and a strong and secure bond between the mother and the newborn is established. Kangaroo care, which does not require any additional equipment or special preparation, is a safe method that can be easily and frequently implemented due to its numerous benefits. Since maternal and neonatal health affects not only the family but also public health, maternal and neonatal comfort is considered to be of great importance. Kangaroo care is believed to contribute positively to the enhancement of this comfort and the strengthening of the mother-infant bond. Despite the well-documented benefits of kangaroo care in the literature, its implementation in our country has not reached the desired level. This study is planned to determine the effect of kangaroo care education provided to pregnant women in the third trimester on mother-infant bonding and maternal and neonatal comfort.

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Key information

Conditions

Kangaroo Care Bonding Comfort Pregnant

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Yalova University

Yalova, 77200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

for Pregnant Women:

  • Aged 18 years or older,
  • Primiparous (first pregnancy),
  • Between 35-38 weeks of gestation,
  • Able to speak Turkish and/or without communication barriers,
  • At least a primary school graduate,
  • A healthy pregnancy,
  • Good health status during and after delivery,
  • No contraindications for providing kangaroo care,
  • No physical and/or mental health issues,
  • No infectious diseases transmitted through contact,
  • Willing to participate in the study,
  • Use of WhatsApp application,
  • Pregnant women expecting a single baby will be included in the study.

Inclusion criteria

for the Infant:

  • Full-term,
  • No need for oxygen support,
  • No congenital anomalies,
  • No infectious diseases,
  • Stable general condition.

Exclusion criteria

  • Exclusion Criteria for Pregnant Women:
  • Multiparity,
  • Foreign nationals, migrants, or those with communication difficulties,
  • High-risk pregnancies,
  • Physical and/or mental health issues,
  • Presence of an infectious disease transmitted through contact,
  • Refusal to participate in the study,
  • Non-users of phone and/or WhatsApp application,
  • Pregnant women expecting multiple babies will be excluded from the study.

Exclusion criteria

during Data Collection:

  • Women who no longer wish to continue in the study after volunteering,
  • Women who cannot be reached via WhatsApp and/or phone,
  • Women whose infants experience death (exitus),
  • Women whose infants have conditions preventing the application of kangaroo care will be excluded from the study.

Treatment and study plan

Kangaroo Care Intervention Group

Behavioral

The mother should wear a comfortable outfit that can be easily opened at the front, and attention should be given to the mother's privacy. The infant should be covered with a light blanket. While applying kangaroo care, the baby may be completely naked, or the baby may wear items such as a hat, diaper, and socks. The kangaroo care position involves placing the baby upright between the mother's breasts. The newborn's abdomen should be positioned at the level of the mother's epigastric region. While performing kangaroo care, the mother should ensure that the baby's face is visible and that the baby's head is not in extreme extension or excessive flexion. During the procedure, care should be taken to ensure that the baby can breathe comfortably while on the mother's chest. The pregnant women will be instructed to practice kangaroo care intermittently for 30 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Evaluation of Mother-Infant Bonding in Pregnant Women Who Received Kangaroo Care Education in the Third Trimester

    Time frame: At the time of first participation in the study in the third trimester, within the first 24 hours after delivery, and 4 weeks after delivery

    After being informed by the mother/father that labor has started, they will be visited at the hospital within the first 24 hours. During this visit, it will be inquired whether the mother has applied kangaroo care, and she will be encouraged to do so. The infant information form, mother-infant bonding scale will be completed. As the final follow-up, a video call will be conducted with the mother 4 weeks later, and she will be asked to complete the survey forms sent via WhatsApp.

  2. Evaluation of Maternal Comfort in Pregnant Women Who Received Kangaroo Care Education in the Third Trimester

    Time frame: At the time of first participation in the study in the third trimester, within the first 24 hours after delivery, and 4 weeks after delivery

    The infant information form, mother kangaroo care comfort scale will be completed. As the final follow-up, a video call will be conducted with the mother 4 weeks later, and she will be asked to complete the survey forms sent via WhatsApp.

  3. Evaluation of Neonatal Comfort in Pregnant Women Who Received Kangaroo Care Education in the Third Trimester

    Time frame: Newborn comfort behaviors will be evaluated within the first 24 hours after birth and again at 4 weeks postpartum.

    The infant information form, neonatal comfort behaviour scale will be completed. As the final follow-up, a video call will be conducted with the mother 4 weeks later, and she will be asked to complete the survey forms sent via WhatsApp.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Yalova

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Kangaroo Care Education Given to Pregnant Women in the Third Trimester on Mother-Infant Bonding, Maternal and Neonatal Comfort: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 1, 2025
Registry last updated
Feb 18, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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