Infant Massage on the Growth and Development of Premature Infants: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56359/igj.v5i3.1156Keywords:
Premature Infants, Infant Massage, Baby Massage, Infant Growth, Infant Development, Nonpharmacological InterventionAbstract
Background & Objective: Premature infants are infants born before 37 weeks of gestation and are at high risk of experiencing growth disorders and developmental delays due to organ system immaturity. One of the nonpharmacological nursing interventions widely used to support the growth and development of premature infants is infant massage. The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of infant massage on the growth and development of premature infants through a literature review.
Method: This study used a literature review method with a descriptive-analytic approach. A total of 15 national and international articles were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria through searches in the Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. Data were analyzed descriptively based on relevant research results regarding the effectiveness of infant massage in premature infants.
Results: The results of the review showed that infant massage is effective in improving the growth and development of premature infants. Most studies reported a significant increase in body weight, improved sleep quality, increased oxygen saturation, better motor and neurological development, increased bonding attachment between mother and infant, and reduced length of stay in the NICU. Several studies also showed that infant massage helps improve digestive function through vagus nerve stimulation so that nutrient absorption becomes more optimal.
Conclusion: Infant massage has been proven effective as a nonpharmacological nursing intervention that supports the growth and development of premature infants through increased body weight, sleep quality, physiological stability, motor development, and the emotional relationship between mother and infant. Therefore, infant massage is recommended as part of routine care for premature infants both in perinatology rooms, NICU, and at home with assistance from health workers.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ririn Aliya Putri, Tassya Indri Fadillah, Nur Fajria Rahman, Zidan Nurhidayat, Ni Wayan Wiwin Asthiningsih
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