Attachment relationships between adolescent mothers and their 'kangaroo' babies

The effect of mothers' age and the participation in the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on attachment relationships, was studied in a group of mothers and their infants from low socioeconomic status sample. The mother-infant interaction was observed in daily situations, finding out that the KMC increases the mother's sensitivity and decreases the negative effects of poverty, prematurity, hospitalisation and teenage maternity on infant security. The KMC does not increase the possibility that the infants establish insecure attachment relationships. These findings provide necessary evidence for the development of prevention-intervention programs for high risk populations.