CARDIORESPIRATORY STABILITY OF PREMATURE BOYS AND GIRLS DURING KANGAROO CARE

The objective of the investigation was to study the stability of the c ardiorespiratory system of 20 premature boys and girls during maternal kangaroo care (KC) and in the incubator. Stability of heart rate, res piration and oxygen saturation was compared in a pretest-test-posttest design by means of a stability score. The three stability items and t he total stability did not change significantly during the three condi tions. In some individuals the stability either increased or decreased markedly during Kangaroo Care. The boys showed significantly less car diorespiratory stability both during kangaroo care and in the incubato r compared to the girls. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.