Effect of kangaroo care on vulnerable infant syndrome in mother.

While why and how the perception of vulnerability is still a controversial issue, it is stated that it can be caused by parental behaviors, the special situations of the baby / child and many environmental factors. It is also known that the perception of vulnerability negatively affects the development of the baby / child and may cause behavioral disorders. It is reported that kangaroo care, which has many benefits, can also be effective in the perception of fragility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Vulnerable Baby Scale(VBS) in Turkish and to investigate the effect of kangaroo care on vulnerable infant syndrome in the mother. The study was carried out in two stages, methodologically and experimentally. This study was carried out in T.C. Ministry of Health Gaziantep Provincial Health Directorate Cengiz Gökçek Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatric Hospital, Gaziantep Private ANKA Hospital and T.C. Ministry of Health Kilis Provincial Health Directorate Kilis State Hospital. The study was carried out with 371 mothers who had a baby between the ages of 1 week and 4 months who were treated and cared for at least 5 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In the first stage of the study, questionnaire 1, VBS, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Lisrel Programs. In the evaluation of the data, content validity, construct validity (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Barlett test, Confirmatory factor analysis), criterion validity (comparison with known group) and reliability analyzes (internal consistency, stability) were used. In addition, in addition to these analyzes, number and percentage taking in the analysis of demographic data, mean, standard deviation for the variables determined by measurement, t test in independent groups for showing normal distribution, t test in dependent groups, mann-whitney U test, kruskal Wallis test for showing non-normal distribution and correlation analysis were used for the relationships between the components. The translation-back translation technique was used to test the language validity of the VBS. In addition, in order to ensure the content validity, the opinions of the experts were used and Kendall Kends W test was used to determine the consensus of the experts (p> 0.05). In the construct validity of the scale, the sample size was first tested with KMO and Barlett Test and the sample size was evaluated as very good in the results (KMO = 0.851, X² = 665.065, p = 0.01). In CFA, it was observed that WBS maintained the single-factor structure of 10 items, factor loadings of the items ranged between 0.38 and 1.16, and all of the CFA compliance index values were acceptable limits / perfect compliance limits (NFI = 0.94, NNFI = 0.96, IFI = 0.97 , RFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.97, GFI = 0.93, AGFI = 0.88, RMR0.07, REMSEA = 0.076, X² / SD = 2.06). In the analyzes performed for criterion validity; were found to have higher mean VBS scores mothers who had preterm infants (65.99) than mothers who had term babies (46.03) and mothers who had babies by assisted reproductive technique (46.86) than mothers who had babies in normal ways (32.14)(p <0.01). Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.849 in the analysis for internal consistency. When the item-total score correlations were examined, it was found that the Croncbach alpha coefficient did not change significantly when any item was removed. The two half reliability levels of the scale were evaluated as 0.85. A intermediate level positive correlation was found between the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the VBS (r=0.32). Test-retest results showed a strong positive and significant relationship(r = 0.99). In the second stage of the study, the effect of kangaroo care on fragility perception was examined. This study was carried out in Gaziantep Private ANKA Hospital. At this stage of the study, the sample group consisted of 58 preterm babies, 27 of whom were control and 31 of which were experimental group. The data of the study; was collected by using Questionnaire 2, VBS, EPDS and Maternal Attachment Scale (MAS). The data of the study were evaluated in SPSS program. In the analysis of demographic data of the study, number and percentage taking, mean and standard deviation analyzes for the variables determined by measurement, pearson moments correlation test, t-test in dependent and independent groups, Fisher's Exact test were used. In the second part of the study, MRS mean score of the mothers; kangaroo care was found to be 17.22 ± 0.96 in the experimental group and 43.66 ± 0.89 in the control group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p <0.01). In addition, after the kangaroo care application, the mean scores of both EPDS and MBL between the groups were found to be statistically significant in favor of the experimental group mothers (p <0.01). As a result; it was determined that VBS can be used as a valid and reliable tool in Turkish society and kangaroo care reduces maternal vulnerability, postpartum depression and increases maternal attachment. Keywords; vulnerability perception, preterm, kangaroo care