Rate of breastfeeding for 4 months and promoting factors : a cohort study of mothers of preterm infants at Siriraj Hospital

Abstract

Background: Breast milk is widely accepted as the best nutrition for all newborn infants. World Health Organization has recommended exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Rate of 4-month and 6-month exclusive breastfeeding in Thailand are 20.7% and 14.5%, respectively. There is no data reported for preterm infants. Objectives: 1) To determine rate of 4-month exclusive or predominant breastfeeding and partial breastfeeding in preterm infants. 2) To determine feeding pattern during hospitalization and at home in preterm infants. 3) To determine promoting factors of successful breastfeeding. Materials and methods: This was a cohort study in mothers of preterm infants with gestational age ≤ 34 weeks and birth weight ≤ 2000 grams. Data is collected from medical records and by parental interview. The mother-infant dyads will be followed after discharged from hospital until 4 months of age. Results: The study period was between 1 March 2009 and 28 February 2010. There were 90 mothers recruited. Data of 74 mothers with complete follow up were analyzed. Mean maternal age was 29.67 ± 7.43 years old. Median gestational age at delivery was 31 (interquartile range 4) weeks. Mean infants birth weight was 1412.71 ± 339.18 grams. Rate of exclusive or predominant and partial breastfeeding were 32.4% and 29.7%, respectively. After adjusted for mother work at home, multiple pregnancy, previous breastfeeding experience, mother stay with infants and exclusive breastfeeding in the last 24 hours by multiple logistic regression analysis, promoting factors of successful exclusive breastfeeding were mother work at home (OR 6.77, 95%CI 1.80, 25.55), previous breastfeeding experience (OR 5.09, 95%CI 1.39, 18.65), exclusive breastfeeding in the last 24 hours (OR 4.70, 95%CI 1.17, 18.89) and mother stay with infants (OR 4.22, 95%CI 1.17, 15.68). Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding in preterm infants is possible. Mothers stay with their infants during long hospitalization and exclusive breastfeeding during the last 24 hours before discharge are significant promoting factors that should be supported by health personnel. Mother work at home is the other significant promoting factor of successful 4-months exclusive or predominant breastfeeding.