Avaliação do desempenho motor e movimentos generalizados em prematuros de baixo peso submetidos ao Método Canguru

Abstract

Introduction: The Kangaroo Method, implemented by many developing countries, is a strategy for improving neonatal care. This method seeks to organize the immature physiological systems of low weight premature infants through the insertion of parents into the responsibility of the baby and the kangaroo position. Despite the benefits already mentioned since its development, little is known about the motor patterns and the generalized movements of premature infants undergoing this method. Objective: To evaluate the motor performance and the generalized movements of low birth weight preterm infants submitted to the Kangaroo Method. Methods: This was an exploratory cross-sectional study of 33.18 (± 2.19) weeks old babies born with gestational age and 1778.87 (± 300.67), submitted to MC. The infants were followed during hospital stay, mean of 19.30 (± 10.74) days, in order to collect data regarding prenatal, perinatal and postnatal clinical variables and the daily kangaroo position time made by caregivers. After the discharge, they were evaluated at the first visit of the third stage of CM, with a mean age of 38.26 (± 1.87) weeks. The motor performance was evaluated by the Infant Performance Test of Motor Performance and the spontaneous movements by the Prechtl Method. Results: The prevalence of atypical motor performance was 21.7% and of generalized abnormalities was 39.1%. The analysis showed low agreement between the two instruments and a longer hospitalization time for infants with typical motor performance (p = 0.01). Conclusion: In the present study it was observed that despite MC, atypical motorized movement and motor performance rates were found, emphasizing the importance of the use of standardized instruments in the monitoring of preterm infants, such as TIMP and GM.