Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is an alternative model of care that prevents parent-infant separation when preterm infants need neonatal intensive care by skin-to-skin contact between infants and their parents. KMC is also a strategy that involves parents in their infants’ care and enables them to assume the responsibility for the care. Furthermore, KMC promotes parent-infant bonding and attachment. The overall aim of this thesis was to gain a deeper understanding and knowledge about parents’ capacity, willingness, and experiences of KMC and to which extent parents choose to use KMC throughout their infants' hospital stay. These studies were conducted in the NICUs at two Swedish university hospitals (NICU A and NICU B). Mothers of infants cared for at NICU A (n=17) answered a questionnaire about their experiences of KMC (Paper I). Twenty parents of infants cared for at NICU A recorded the duration of each KMC session during a period of 24 hours and the identity the KMC provider (Paper II). Seven fathers were interviewed about their experiences of KMC (Paper III) and 76 mothers and 74 fathers completed a questionnaire about what facilitated or rendered it difficult to perform KMC (Paper IV). The time of initiation of KMC and duration in minutes, and the identity of the KMC providers was recorded continuously during the infants’ (n=104) hospital stay: 83 mothers and 80 fathers also completed a questionnaire during their infants’ hospital stay (Paper V). This thesis provides new knowledge about parents’ practice of KMC, also continuously day and night, in a high tech NICU in an affluent society, with good resources for infant care in an incubator by trained staff. The accuracy of parents’ records of KMC were comparable to nurses’ records. The results indicate that parents want to be together with their infant in the NICU and be actively involved in the infants’ care. Although parents may experience KMC as exhausting and uncomfortable, they still prefer KMC to conventional neonatal intensive care as it supports their parental role. Early initiation of KMC after birth appears to result in a longer total duration of KMC during the infants’ hospital stay.

Societal marketing - marketing based on socially or environmentally conscious attributes, has for many years been considered an accepted chapter of marketing theory. However, consumer response to many socially-conscious products never met expectations - prompting marketing researchers to re-examine the assumptions underpinning the societal marketing theory. One such assumption is that, given consumer concern for environmental and social issues, there is a positive, significant relationship between consumer societal knowledge and the purchase of socially-conscious products. However, the few studies which have examined this relationship have failed to provide consistent results, and thus the nature of the relationship remains unclear. It is argued within this thesis that the equivocation of results may have been a methodological artefact, as investigations often used general rather than specific measures and excluded moderating variables from their theoretical models. Adopting a mixed-method approach, this study first used qualitative interviews to identify moderating variables which may impact the relationship between the knowledge and purchase. The identified potential moderating variables were then incorporated into quantitative, survey research which was used to examine the nature of the relationship between consumer societal knowledge and the purchase of socially-conscious products. The study found that the relationship between the variables is both positive and significant, but weak. The results revealed that one contextual variable, Health, moderated the relationship between knowledge and purchase. The results also suggest the more traditional product attribute of price remains the most significant predictor of purchase - far greater than the consumers' societal knowledge.

The adverse impacts on vegetation and soils due to livestock grazing have been extensively studied for many years. The extent to which native wildlife may also be causing change to their environment, as a result of local increases in population density, has been the subject of debate in a number of countries. In Australia there has been a growing awareness in recent years that native herbivores, particularly kangaroos and wallabies, may also be causing changes to ecosystem dynamics. Environmmental changes, produced firstly by the aboriginal people and then by Europeans, have favoured the larger macropods, resulting in increased population levels. These impacts can also be seen in areas around cities, where pressure from urbanisation has restricted populations to smaller and smaller patches of remnant vegetation and reserves, increasing the pressure on diminishing food resources within these patches. This study focuses on one of the areas that supplies drinking water to Melbourne, the Yan Yean Reservoir catchment, which is situated 37 km north east of Melbourne. This study adds to our understanding of the impacts of native wildlife populations by investigating the extent of some of these possible changes to ecosystem dynamics.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Nursing) / The number of healthcare institutions that has embraced Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) as an effective and efficient method of neonatal care especially in Edo State, Nigeria has not multiplied even after more than a decade of its recommendation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2003. Nigeria ranks seventh among the ten African countries where newborns have the highest risk of dying with over 700 newborn deaths per10, 000 live births. This is worrisome because Edo State is one of the 36 states in Nigeria that contribute about 6,700 neonatal deaths to the 255,500 mortality rate recorded in Nigeria annually. This has led to a concern about the knowledge and attitude of the key drivers in neonatal care of simplified methods aimed at reducing neonatal mortality despite previous training efforts. The development of a strategy to enhance the early implementation of the WHO KMC guidelines in all healthcare facilities across the state was therefore conceptualized. Strategies to increase implementation are considered important to the success of KMC because reducing neonatal mortality rate is contextual. This research aimed to explore and describe the application of the KMC guidelines by the nurses, administrators and parents of preterm infants in the care of premature babies and to develop strategies to enhance its early implementation in healthcare facilities in Edo State, Nigeria.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-09-14T11:20:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 fernandabuzzinariribeirodesa.pdf: 1018276 bytes, checksum: 99f880ee779c26f3b8a92b5857085d31 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Diamantino Mayra (mayra.diamantino@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-09-26T20:17:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 fernandabuzzinariribeirodesa.pdf: 1018276 bytes, checksum: 99f880ee779c26f3b8a92b5857085d31 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-26T20:17:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 fernandabuzzinariribeirodesa.pdf: 1018276 bytes, checksum: 99f880ee779c26f3b8a92b5857085d31 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-25 / Muitos bebês nascem prematuros e com baixo peso todos os anos no Brasil. O Método Canguru é um tipo de assistência neonatal voltada para o atendimento do recém-nascido prematuro que implica colocar o bebê em contato pele a pele com sua mãe (OMS, 2004). O Método abrange questões como os cuidados técnicos com o bebê, o acolhimento à família, a promoção do vínculo mãe/bebê e o aleitamento materno. O presente trabalho buscou estudar a constituição e as formas de relação estabelecidas entre mãe e bebê prematuro a partir do referencial teórico de Winnicott. Além disso, pretendeu lançar mão de algumas categorias para avaliação da relação mãe-bebê prematuro aplicadas durante as três etapas do Método Canguru e avaliar os efeitos da Enfermaria Canguru sobre o desenvolvimento da Preocupação Materna Primária. O estudo dos dados tomou por base a análise de conteúdo qualitativa. Das 20 mães estudadas, 10 passaram pela Enfermaria Canguru e 10 não passaram. Pela análise dos casos conclui-se que a EC não influenciou de modo determinante no desenvolvimento da PMP na maioria das mães, apesar de ter representado um momento de fortalecimento desta condição materna e proporcionado maior confiança e segurança nos cuidados e no conhecimento das peculiaridades dos bebês. / Many babies are born premature and underweight each year in Brazil. The Kangaroo Care Method is a kind of neonatal care focused on the treatment of premature infants that involves placing the baby in skin contact with his mother (WHO, 2004). The method covers issues such as technical care for the baby, the family support and the promotion of mother / baby link and breastfeeding. This work studied the formation and forms of relationships established between mother and premature baby from the theoretical framework of Winnicott. In addition, we intended to use some categories for the evaluation of the mother-premature infant relantionship applied during the three stages of the Kangaroo Care Method and evaluate the effects of Kangaroo Infirmary on the development of primary maternal preoccupation. Of the 20 women studied, 10 of them came throught Kangaroo Nursery, and the other 10, did not. It is concluded that the EC did not influence the way in the development of PMP most mothers, even though it represented a time of strengthening of maternal condition and provided greater confidence and security in care and knowledge of the peculiarities of the babies.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Every year, about 20 million infants are born with low birth weight globally, putting a heavy burden on health care and social systems, especially in developing countries as they are often understaffed and/or lack optimally functional equipment. In 1978, Dr E. Rey proposed the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) programme which was further developed by coworkers at one of the largest obstetric facilities in Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia. KMC was introduced as an alternative to the expensive and seldom used traditional methods to care for low birth weight infants. KMC is currently not practised at Tsumeb district hospital despite many infants born with low weight in the district. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore perceptions regarding the implementation of Kangaroo Mother Care in the maternity ward of Tsumeb district hospital. Study design: This was a qualitative exploratory study. Study population and sampling: The study population are doctors and nurses working in Tsumeb district, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) as well as the health programme administrators in the family health division of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), Oshikoto region. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Results: Perceptions were grouped into three main themes namely the parent-related, health worker-related and baby-related. Parent-related perceptions include self-trust, increased competency, less frustration, and active involvement of parents in baby care, which are similar to the literature and regarded as benefits of KMC. Health worker-related perceptions included both reduced workload and an increased workload. Baby-related perceptions are reduced morbidity, increased bonding and improved care. The study also revealed the barriers to KMC implementation as well as factors that can make KMC implementation a success. Conclusions: Three broad themes emerged from the study, parent-related, health worker-related and baby-related. Most of the health workers’ perceptions are similar to the benefits of KMC found in the literature but, some health workers have negative perceptions regarding KMC.

Tio procent av alla barn som föds i Sverige vårdas på neonatalavdelning. Där arbetar barnsjuksköterskor med särskild kompetens inom barn- och barnsjukvård med en viktig roll att stärka barns rätt till hälsa och föräldrarnas delaktighet i vården. Hud-mot-hud är en omvårdnadsmetod som har visat sig ge många fördelar för barnen. Samtidigt har utmaningar identifierats kring hur hud-mot-hud kan genomföras på bästa sätt och att barnsjuksköterskors uppfattningar och attityder kan påverka resultatet. Syftet med studien var att beskriva barnsjuksköterskors uppfattningar om och attityder till att vårda hud-mot-hud på neonatalavdelning. Sex intervjuer med sjuksköterskor har genomförts via digitala videoverktyg. Resultatet visade att barnsjuksköterskor är positivt inställda till att vårda hud-mot hud. De anser att det är det viktigaste föräldrarna kan göra för sitt barn och ser det som sitt ansvar att göra dem delaktiga i vården och stötta dem så att anknytningen främjas. Diskussion har förts utifrån hur det är att vårda de mycket för tidigt födda och svårast sjuka barnen, vad hud-mot-hud betyder för anknytningen och familjecentrerad vård. Slutsatsen blir att barnsjuksköterskor med sin unika kompetens kan stärka föräldrarna i hud-mot-hud-vården så att barnens hälsa främjas.

ABSTRACT Background: Kangaroo-mother care (KMC) is a vital part of the neonatal care. The method is based on skin to skin contact, where the parent or another caregiver, holds the child on itsbare chest for an extensive period of time. This has been proven to have a positive effect on the childs physical and mental development. Less extensive research has been made on the methods effects on the parents.  Aim: The aim of this studie was to describe the parents experience of used KMC during their childs time on a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).  Method: A literature study with descriptive design. Based off of 12 original qualitative studies from the databases PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science.  Results: The parents experiences could be devided into four themes: Emotional- and physical experiences as a result of KMC, the unit’s effect on the experience of KMC and bonding. The method was appreciated by the parents and the overall experience was positive. However, the method can be demanding for the parents and the staff and environment on the NICU have a big influence on the experience.  Conclusion: Time on a NICU can be stressful for both child and parents. KMC has been proven to be beneficial for the child, but also for the parents’ experience of their childs care. The method should be practiced as much as possible, with the influence of the health care staff and unit’s environment. Keywords: Kangaroo-mother care method. Intensive care. Neonatal. Infant. Parents. / SAMMANFATTNING Bakgrund: Kängurumetoden (KMC) utgör en vital del av omvårdnaden på neonatala vårdavdelningar. Metoden utgörs av hud mot hud kontakt, där föräldern eller en annan vårdgivare har barnet vilande på bröstkorgen under en längre tid. Detta har visats ha positiv effekt på barnets fysiska och psykiska utveckling. Det finns mindre forskning gällande metodens effekt på föräldrarna . Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva föräldrarnas upplevelse av genomförd kängurumetod under sitt barns vårdtid på neonatal intensivvårdsavdelning. Metod: Litteraturstudie med beskrivande design och som är av kvalitativ karaktär. Baserat på 12 kvalitativa originalartiklar från databaserna PubMed, CINAHL och Webof Science.  Resultat: Föräldrarnas upplevelser kunde delas in i fyra kategorier; känslomässiga upplevelser till följd av KMC, kroppslig upplevelse till följd av KMC, vårdavdelningens påverkan på upplevelsen och anknytning. Metoden var något som uppskattades och upplevelsen var övervägande positivt. Dock ställer den krav på föräldrarna, där också vårdpersonal och vårdmiljö har en viktig påverkan. Slutsats: Tiden på en neonatal intensivvårdsavdelning kan vara påfrestande för både barn och föräldrar. Kängurumetoden har visats vara gynnsam för både barnet men också föräldrarnas upplevelse. Metoden bör tillämpas i så stor utsträckning som möjligt, där vårdpersonal och avdelning har en viktig roll. Nyckelord: Kängurumetoden. Intensivvård. Neonatal. Spädbarn. Föräldrar.

Kangaroo care (KC) is a cost-efficient method to increase infant-parent bonding and neonatal health outcomes worldwide. Despite evidence supporting KC in critically ill infants, nursing perceptions regarding patient safety and interrupted work flow continued to impede practice in the local high-tech neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Their current policy failed to address the 2-person transfer method recommended for safe practice. In addition, both staff and parents lacked training and education regarding the benefits and feasibility of KC. This doctoral project aimed to decrease practice barriers and promote earlier and more frequent KC by developing and integrating an evidence-based clinical pathway within a multifaceted champion-based simulated educational training program for NICU staff and parents. Published outcomes and generated organizational data for program synthesis connected the gap in practice. Kolcaba's comfort theory served as the guiding framework to ensure a partnership in care. This quasi-experimental quantitative study used the generalized liner model for data analysis. Study findings indicated that KC occurred 2.4 more times after the intervention compared to before (p = 0.001). Descriptive data revealed that KC episodes for intubated patients nearly doubled after implementation (11.1% from 6.2%). Post-survey scores for nursing knowledge and comfort level also improved after the intervention. Although earlier KC practice was non-conclusive (p = 0.082), future trials should control groups for day of life since admission. Disseminating the KC pathway can have a positive social change on family-centered care by increasing NICU nurses' knowledge, comfort, and adoption of this evidence-based practice as an expected routine standard of care.

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