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  • Title: Factors Affecting Breastfeeding Outcomes at Six Months in Preterm Infants.
    Author: Wang Y, Briere CE, Xu W, Cong X.
    Journal: J Hum Lact; 2019 Feb; 35(1):80-89. PubMed ID: 29723482.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND:: Preterm mother-infant dyads often face many obstacles to breastfeeding. Preterm infants are at highest risk for low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. RESEARCH AIM:: To determine the prevalence of breastfeeding at 6 months among preterm infants and to identify factors that influenced mothers' breastfeeding practices. METHODS:: A longitudinal observational study was conducted in a metropolitan hospital in Beijing, China. Mothers ( N = 270) and their preterm infants ( N = 280) were included in the study. Characteristics of preterm mothers and their perceptions of breastfeeding self-efficacy, knowledge, social support, and postpartum depression symptoms were measured at the discharge of neonatal intensive care. Breastfeeding data were collected by phone interview at 6 months corrected age. RESULTS:: At discharge, mothers of very preterm infants perceived a lower level of breastfeeding self-efficacy (measured with the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form) and had a higher level of depression symptoms (measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]) than mothers of moderate and late preterm infants ( p < .05-.01). Nearly half of all mothers had an elevated EPDS score, considered to be symptomatic of postpartum depression. At 6 months, only 22.5% of all infants were exclusively breastfeeding. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding, including younger maternal age, previous breastfeeding experience, shorter mother-infant separation time during intensive care, older infant gestational age, and a higher level of breastfeeding self-efficacy, significantly predicted exclusive breastfeeding practice ( p < .05-.001). CONCLUSION:: The prevalence of breastfeeding at 6 months for preterm infants in this sample was low. Strategies to improve breastfeeding duration for preterm infants are needed, including support and education of mothers while in the hospital.
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