Preterm and low birth weight babies who received "kangaroo mother care" -- skin-to-skin contact and exclusive or near-exclusive breast-feeding -- had 61% lower odds of infant mortality, higher breast-feeding rates, fewer infections leading to hospitalization, better math and language test scores, and higher hourly wages in early adulthood, compared with those who didn't receive such care. The findings in Pediatrics also showed that those who received kangaroo care had lower odds of aggression, impulsiveness, hyperactivity and anti-social behavior at age 20.
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