Elucidating the effects of the multisensory integration with kangaroo mother care (msi-kmc) onto the early cognitive performance in two-month old infants : visual habituation behavior
Abstract:
The multisensory integration with kangaroo mother care (MSI-KMC) program was
deliberately based on three dimensional knowledge foundations: window of
opportunity, sleep pattern in accordance with circadian rhythm, and Piagets theory and
ecological model in order to increase cognitive performances among newly born infants.
This study aimed to elucidate the effects of multisensory integration with kangaroo
mother care onto the early cognitive performance among two-month old infants. Visual
habituation behavior was used to determine such performance at the corrected age of
one and two months old.
Forty-six healthy term infants were recruited and assigned randomly into either
experimental group or control group. The experimental group consisted of twenty-four
infants receiving MSI-KMC intervention whereas the control group consisted of twentytwo infants receiving KMC intervention. Both groups practiced such assigned intervention
for two months long interval. Consequently, total look duration and number of
habituation trials together with weight, length and head circumference were assessed
and analyzed. F-test, t-test, Chi-square test, and one-way repeated measure MANOVA
were employed to test research hypotheses. Two major findings emerged accordingly.
First, the experimental group had lower mean scores of the total look duration and the
number of habituation trials than the control group significantly at p<.01. Second, the
experimental group had statistically significant higher mean scores on weight, length and
head circumference than those of the control group at p<.01. The MSI-KMC program,
therefore, could potentially be used to stimulate and advocate infants physical growth
and cognitive performance development.