Table 1 Characteristics of the included reviews

Evans et al., 2014 [26]

Are parenting interventions effective in improving the relationship between mothers and their preterm infants?

To systematically review the efficacy of parenting interventions in improving the quality of the relationship between mothers and preterm infants

RCTs and quasi-experimental designs

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Science

Benzies et al., 2013 [30]

Key components of early intervention programs for preterm infants and their parents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To categorise the key components of early intervention programs and determine the direct effects of components on parents, as well as their preterm infants

RCTs

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ERIC, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Brett et al., 2011 [25]

A systematic mapping review of effective interventions for communicating with, supporting and providing information to parents of preterm infants

To identify and map out effective interventions for communication with, supporting and providing information for parents of preterm infants.

RCTs, quasi-experimental and non-intervention studies

Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, the Cochrane library, CINAHL, Midwives Information and Resource Service, Health Management Information Consortium, Health Management and Information Service

Herd, et al., 2014 [32]

Efficacy of preventative parenting interventions for parents of preterm infants on later child behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To determine the efficacy of parenting interventions for parents of preterm infants to improve child behaviour

RCTs

PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsychINFO, web of science, Cochrane library

Goyal et al., 2013 [33]

Home Visiting and Outcomes of Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review

To review evidence regarding home visiting and outcomes of preterm infants

RCTs and Cohort studies

Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane library, PsycINFO, EMBASE

Vanderveen et al., 2009 [23]

Early interventions involving parents to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes of premature infants: a meta-analysis

To determine whether interventions for infant development that involve parents, improve neurodevelopment at 12 months corrected age or older

RCTs

MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Cochrane library

Spittle al., 2015 [34]

Early developmental intervention programmes provided post hospital discharge to prevent motor and cognitive impairment in preterm infants

To compare the effectiveness of early developmental intervention programmes provided post hospital discharge to prevent motor or cognitive impairment in preterm (<  37 weeks) infants versus standard medical follow-up of preterm infants at infancy (zero to < three years), preschool age (three to < five years), school age (five to < 18 years) and adulthood (≥ 18 years)

RCTs and Quasi- RCTs

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase

Boundy et al., 2016 [21]

Kangaroo Mother Care and Neonatal Outcomes: A Meta-analysis

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis estimating the association between KMC and neonatal outcomes

RCTs and observational studies

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, African Index Medicus (AIM), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System (LILACS), Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (IMEMR), Index Medicus for the South-East Asian Region (IMSEAR), and Western Pacific Region Index Medicus (WPRIM).

Lawn et al., 2010 [31]

Kangaroo mother care’ to prevent neonatal deaths due to preterm birth complications

To review the evidence, and estimate the effect of KMC on neonatal mortality due to complications of preterm birth.

RCTs and observational studies

Cochrane Libraries, PubMed, LILACS, African Medicus, EMRO and all World Health Organization Regional Databases

McGregor et al., 2012 [35]

Enhancing parent-infant bonding using kangaroo care: a structured review

To review the literature on the effectiveness of kangaroo care with premature infants for enhancing bonding.

RCTs and observational studies

Medline, CINAHL, OTDBASE, PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), Allied and Complimentary Medicine Database (AMED), and British Nursing Index (BNI)

Zhang et al., 2014 [24]

Early Intervention for preterm infants and their mothers

To evaluate the efficacy of early interventions on maternal emotions, mother-infant interaction and infant development outcomes

RCTs

PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Cochrane library