THE CENTRALITY OF THE FEMININE IN THE KANGAROO METHOD

Abstract This paper addresses the centrality given to the feminine in the Kangaroo method preconized in infant and maternal health scientific journals. A bibliographic study was conducted from November 2013 to November 2014 using a qualitative approach. The review was conducted in three journals: Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil, Jornal de Pediatria, and Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia; where 13 articles about the Kangaroo Care subject were identified. The collected data was processed using a thematic content analysis technique. The results confirmed that care is centered on the woman/mother figure, and indicated an absence of gender discussions in the Kangaroo method. The results also confirmed the father's secondary role as a caretaker, subsumed under the terminology of 'family'. In addition, the dilemmas of female and family nature are only residually discussed.