The effect of infantile anti-colic massage and kangaroo care on postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression and maternal function of mothers

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of postpartum colic massage and kangaroo care on anxiety, family and maternal productivity in mothers. Method: This study is a randomized controlled trial. The study was conducted with mothers of infants diagnosed with infantile colic. The study groups were randomly divided into three groups, namely massage, kangaroo care and control group, by stratified randomization. Study data were collected using the “Mother-Baby Information Form”, “The Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF)”, “Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale” and “Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI)”. Data collection was completed between March 2022 and February 2023. The study was completed with a total of 90 mothers. Results: The findings indicated that maternal functioning showed the greatest improvement in the massage group (12.31 ± 5.93, p < 0.001). The decrease in postpartum anxiety and depression scores was smaller in the control group compared with the massage and kangaroo care groups (5.29 ± 9.51, 1.39 ± 1.28). A significant negative correlation was observed between infantile colic and maternal functioning (rs = -0.69, p < 0.001), whereas significant positive correlations were found between infantile colic and postpartum anxiety and depression (rs = 0.51, rs = 0.58, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Colic massage and kangaroo care should be integrated into routine prenatal and postpartum education and should be applied by nurses in clinical care.