Factors associated with the delay in the initiation of breasfeeding to premature infants before discharge from hospital

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify factors associated with the delay in the initiation of breastfeeding to premature infants before discharge from hospital. The need for this research is evident in the current practice of feeding premature infants after a nasogastric tube is removed. The study sought to provide answers to delayed initiation of breastfeeding to premature infants before discharge from hospital. Fifty members of staff in the Sick Neonate Unit and 50 mothers of premature infants participated in the study. Self-administered data collection instruments were used to collect data from mothers of premature infants and staff of a Sick Neonate Unit in the hospital. The results showed that sociodemographic factors of staff 15 (f=30%) were 31-40 years old, and young nursing staff have decreased knowledge of breastfeeding as compared to senior and older staff members. Maternal demographic factors 36 (f=73.5%) were single and 13 (f=26.5) were married. Married mothers were more likely to breastfeed with the support of the partner than unmarried mothers. Health service factors staff views towards breastfeeding were 11(f=22.0% staff members were neutral about breastfeeding, and Eighteen (f=36.0%) staff members strongly disagreed to other methods of infant feeding. Maternal breastfeeding knowledge was one of the factors under maternal breastfeeding factors because it showed that 48 mothers (f=98.0%) did not have breastfeeding knowledge. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data.