Challenges and Strategies for Implementing Skin-to-Skin Contact in NICUs

Overview

This narrative review identifies barriers to implementing skin-to-skin contact (SSC) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and summarizes strategies to enhance its integration into routine care. Key findings indicate that SSC is associated with improved clinical and neurodevelopmental outcomes, but its adoption is hindered by clinical, organizational, and emotional challenges.

Background

Preterm birth is a significant global health issue, with millions of infants affected annually. Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) has been established as a critical intervention that enhances neonatal outcomes and parental engagement. Despite its benefits, the inconsistent implementation of SSC in NICUs reflects complex barriers that need to be addressed to improve care.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available in the source material.

Key Findings

• SSC is linked to improved clinical and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants.
• Barriers to SSC implementation include clinical factors, organizational constraints, and emotional challenges.
• Concerns about safety, such as accidental device dislodgement, are prevalent but not supported by evidence when proper monitoring is in place.
• Interventions like multidisciplinary training and standardized protocols can enhance SSC rates and parental engagement.
• Early initiation of SSC is crucial for maximizing its duration and benefits during hospitalization.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should prioritize the implementation of SSC in NICUs by addressing identified barriers and utilizing effective strategies such as training and standardized protocols.

Conclusion

Addressing the multifaceted barriers to SSC is essential for its implementation in neonatal care settings.

Related Resources & Content

1. WHO, WHO, 2022 -- Recommendations for care of the preterm or low-birth-weight infant
2. European Standards of Care for Newborn Health, ESCNH -- Very early and continuous skin-to-skin contact
3. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2026 -- Implementation mapping to develop strategies for skin-to-skin care in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit
4. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2026 -- Family-Centered Care in the NICU: An Integrative Literature Review
5. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2026 -- Practices and challenges of family involvement in neonatal intensive care units across Asia
6. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth — Exploration of factors affecting parent-infant closeness and separation in hospitals in Nepal – a qualitative study
7. WHO recommendations for care of the preterm or low-birth-weight infant
8. Very early and continuous skin-to-skin contact - ESCNH - European Standards of Care for Newborn Health
9. Facilitators and barriers to the practice of neonatal family integrated care from the perspective of healthcare professionals: a systematic review | ADC Fetal & Neonatal Edition
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12. Kangaroo mother care for preterm or low birth weight infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMJ Global Health
13. Efficacy and safety of Kangaroo mother care vs. conventional care during hospitalization for preterm and/or low birth weight infants: a meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials - PMC
14. Kangaroo mother care: a transformative innovation in health care. Global position paper.