P3.174: Mindfulness During Kangaroo Care: Its Impact on Mental Health in Underserved NICU Latina Mothers Living in the U.S.–Mexico Border Region

Background: Previous research findings suggest NICU Latina mothers are at high risk for moderate to severe scores of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). Recommendations in
assessing NICU mother’s mental health and improving their NICU experience are crucial areas of focus to implement a proper holistic type of care, specifically for Latina mothers
who live in the border and have higher levels of risk factors attributed to them (Almaguer-Botero 2021). Integrating mindfulness in the NICU, specifically while practicing kangaroo
care, has shown to reduce maternal stress and improve bonding between mother and infant, which also leads to improved quality of care during NICU and better health outcome
for hospitalized infants (Khoramirad et al., 2020).

Objective:

The current study will focus on improving NICU Latina mother’s mental health and kangaroo care experience by providing them with a mindfulness education session and
techniques (audios and breathing). A total of nine NICU mothers were assessed by using an 8-item scaling (1-10) questionnaire.

Methods: Mothers in NICU were provided with a 30-minute educational mindfulness session by a doctoral level mental health clinician that provided them with mindfulness techniques
(audios, breathing etc.) to use while completing kangaroo care in NICU. Mothers then completed an 8-item questionnaire looking at mother’s self-evaluation of their physical and
mental state after using audios, concentration, ability to block external stressors, perception of experience, audios helpfulness and quality and intention of practice.

Results: The data indicated all NICU mothers that participated in study reported being able to relax physically (M = 9.4), ability to calm their mind (M = 9.4), increased ability to concentrate
on baby (M = 9.7), able to block external stressors (M = 9.3), easily followed along audios (M = 9.7), found audios helpful (M = 9.7), enhanced their kangaroo experience (M =
9.8), and wished to continue applying mindfulness in their life (M = 10).

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that practicing mindfulness while completing kangaroo care in the NICU can improve mothers’ mental health and wellbeing, increase mother’s perception of
bonding with baby and overall improve kangaroo care experience among NICU mothers.