Intervention strategies to enhance early mother-infant interaction at NICU - A systematic review

Early mother-infant interaction is pivotal for the baby's emotional, cognitive, and social development. It promotes bonding, secure attachment, language acquisition, and overall well-being of the infant. The review aims to determine the effect of interventional strategies to enhance early maternal-infant interaction. A systematic review was carried out using the PRISMA guidelines. A scientific literature search was performed in CINAHL via EBSCO host, MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Medical Library. A total of 12 studies included in a narrative synthesis (3 Randomized Controlled Trials and 9 non-RCTs). Family centered care and kangaroo mother care practices have significantly improved mother-infant interaction and bonding at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), even after discharge from the hospital. The healthcare system can incorporate family-centered care and early kangaroo mother care as a part of standard care policy to enhance early mother-infant bonding.