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Observational Study
. 2016 Nov;32(4):695-703.
doi: 10.1177/0890334416664071. Epub 2016 Sep 26.

Factors Influencing Parent Reports of Facilitators and Barriers to Human Milk Supply in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Elisabete Alves  1 , Raquel Magano  2 , Mariana Amorim  1   3 , Conceição Nogueira  4 , Susana Silva  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Factors Influencing Parent Reports of Facilitators and Barriers to Human Milk Supply in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Elisabete Alves et al. J Hum Lact. 2016 Nov.

Erratum in

  • Corrigendum.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Hum Lact. 2018 Feb;34(1):196. doi: 10.1177/0890334417748922. Epub 2017 Dec 21. J Hum Lact. 2018. PMID: 29268655

Abstract

Background: Successful human milk supply in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) requires the development of family-centered services.

Objective: This study aimed to assess parent perceptions of factors that help or hinder providing human milk to very preterm infants (VPI) in the NICU according to sociodemographic, reproductive, and obstetric characteristics.

Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative study included 120 mothers and 91 fathers of VPI hospitalized in a level 3 NICU located in the Northern Health Region of Portugal (July 2013-June 2014). Interviewers administered structured questionnaires regarding parent characteristics and the provision and perception of factors that help or hinder human milk supply in the NICU, 15 to 22 days after birth.

Results: The main facilitators of human milk supply were its contribution to infant growth and well-being (51.4%) and parents' knowledge of breastfeeding benefits (27.6%). The main barriers were worries related to inadequate milk supply (35.7%), difficulties with expressing breast milk (24.8%), and physical separation from infants (24.3%). Fathers referred less frequently to the contribution of human milk to infant growth and well-being (odds ratio [OR] = 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-1.00) but more frequently to knowledge of breastfeeding benefits as facilitators (OR = 2.31; 95% CI, 1.23-4.32). Participants with > 12 years of education (OR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.05-3.47) and those with an extremely low birth weight infant (OR = 1.90; 95% CI, 1.02-3.54) highlighted worries related to inadequate milk supply. Fathers (OR = 2.16; 95% CI, 1.11-4.19) and participants with ≤ 12 years of education (OR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.11-0.57) more frequently reported difficulties with expressing as the main barrier.

Conclusion: The parent's gender and education and the infant's birth weight are crucial considerations for establishing optimal practices for supporting breastfeeding.

Keywords: breastfeeding; child; hospitalized; human; intensive care units; milk; neonatal; parents; patient-centered care.

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