Kangaroo care and postpartum depression: The role of oxytocin.

ABSTRACT:

Problem

Postpartum depression occurs in about 10-22% of women after birth and adversely affects their health and the health of their newborn. Kangaroo care is known to have many health-related benefits for both the mother and her newborn.

Purpose

The aim of this review was to gather the evidence linking the effects of kangaroo care with postpartum depression, specifically focusing on the proposed underlying mechanism involving the release of oxytocin.

Method

The literature review was conducted by targeting PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar databases. The search terms used were postpartum depression, postnatal depression, oxytocin, oxytocin hormone, postpartum depression, kangaroo care, and skin-to-skin contact.

Results

Kangaroo care was found to play an import

SUBMITTER: Badr HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6626107 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature