scholarly journals Postpartum women’s views on human milk banking in a city in Southeast China: a cross-sectional survey

2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haixia Tu ◽  
Ping Li ◽  
Lianlian Zhu ◽  
Xiaozhen Quan ◽  
Shuli Fan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Donor human milk is the best alternative for preterm infants when their mother’s own milk is insufficient or unavailable. The development of human milk banks in China started late, and in most of these banks, the amount of donor human milk is insufficient for clinical demand. Moreover, many mothers are reluctant to use donor human milk due to safety concerns. It is important to understand the potential supply and demand of donor human milk before establishing a new human milk bank. This study aimed to understand women’s acceptance of human milk banking in Wenzhou, southeastern China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in three community health centers in Wenzhou, southeast China, in December 2020. Data were collected from 305 postpartum women selected through convenience sampling. Sociodemographic, perinatal and breastfeeding characteristics, awareness and knowledge of human milk banking and willingness to donate human milk, and to accept donor human milk were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore independent predictors of willingness to donate human milk and to accept donor human milk. Results Only 17% (52/305) of our participants had heard of human milk banking prior to this survey. The prevalence of willingness to donate human milk and use donor human milk in our study was 73.4% (224/305) and 44.6% (136/305), respectively. Employment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17, 4.50) and human milk banking knowledge (AOR 1.23; 95% CI 1.12, 1.35) were independent predictors of willingness to donate human milk. Monthly household income in the previous year (AOR 2.18; 95% CI 1.17, 4.06), awareness of human milk banking (AOR 2.41; 95% CI 1.24, 4.67) and knowledge of human milk banking (AOR 1.22; 95% CI 1.11, 1.35) were significantly associated with willingness to accept donor human milk. Conclusions In our study, awareness of human milk banks among women in the first year postpartum was low. More mothers were willing to donate human milk than to use donor human milk to feed their children. In our study, knowledge of human milk banking was a predictor of both willingness to donate human milk and willingness to use donor human milk. Programs with detailed information on human milk banking are needed to help mothers improve their knowledge and increase acceptance of human milk banking.

2021 ◽  
pp. 089033442110044
Author(s):  
Yasmin Jahan ◽  
Sohel Rahman ◽  
Tasdidaa Shamsi ◽  
Atiqur sm-Rahman

Background Human milk banks play an essential role by providing human milk to infants who would otherwise not be able to receive mother’s milk. Study aim To determine the opinions and attitudes among possible donor mothers regarding human milk banks in one rural region in Bangladesh. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional study following a probability type of stratified cluster sampling technique was used. Included in the study ( N = 121) were mothers aged 20–49 years, with at least one child, who was currently lactating or had breastfed her child, and who resided in the rural community of Bangladesh where the study was conducted. Data were collected through a 21-item, close-ended questionnaire and a face-to-face interview conducted by the researcher at each participant’s home. Results Among the participants, 98.3% ( n = 119) said that they had not heard about human milk banks before speaking with the researchers. Most participants (71.9%, n = 87) said would obtain human milk from milk banks if necessary, but 28% ( n =34) of mothers indicated that they would not receive milk from a milk bank, even if it was necessary for their children. Only 8.3% ( n = 10) said human milk banks were not appropriate according to Islam and 99.2% ( n = 120) did not know about the acceptance of human milk banking practices in Bangladesh. Conclusions For those with religious concerns, a framework for both the donors and recipients can be established. It can be recommended that health education through healthcare personnel (midwives, nurses, gynecologists, pediatricians, and other health professionals) and religious leaders may strengthen the belief and increase awareness among family members about milk banking practices.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256435
Author(s):  
Eva Kontopodi ◽  
Sertac Arslanoglu ◽  
Urszula Bernatowicz-Lojko ◽  
Enrico Bertino ◽  
Maria Enrica Bettinelli ◽  
...  

Background Provision of donor human milk is handled by established human milk banks that implement all required measures to ensure its safety and quality. Detailed human milk banking guidelines on a European level are currently lacking, while the information available on the actual practices followed by the European human milk banks, remains limited. The aim of this study was to collect detailed data on the actual milk banking practices across Europe with particular emphasis on the practices affecting the safety and quality of donor human milk. Materials and methods A web-based questionnaire was developed by the European Milk Bank Association (EMBA) Survey Group, for distribution to the European human milk banks. The questionnaire included 35 questions covering every step from donor recruitment to provision of donor human milk to each recipient. To assess the variation in practices, all responses were then analyzed for each country individually and for all human milk banks together. Results A total of 123 human milk banks completed the questionnaire, representing 85% of the European countries that have a milk bank. Both inter- and intra-country variation was documented for most milk banking practices. The highest variability was observed in pasteurization practices, storage and milk screening, both pre- and post-pasteurization. Conclusion We show that there is a wide variability in milk banking practices across Europe, including practices that could further improve the efficacy of donor human milk banking. The findings of this study could serve as a tool for a global discussion on the efficacy and development of additional evidence-based guidelines that could further improve those practices.


2020 ◽  
pp. 089033442098291
Author(s):  
Priya Bhoola ◽  
Chara Biggs

Background The need for donor human milk has accelerated both locally and globally. To remain sustainable, human milk banks need to maintain effective recruitment including frequent donations of adequate volumes. Research aims To determine (1) which factors influenced mothers’ willingness to give or receive donor human milk, and the influence of (2) socio-demographics, (3) pregnancy, (4) breastfeeding history, (5) prior knowledge of human milk banks, and (6) general factors on milk donations. Methods This was a cross-sectional, prospective, descriptive study. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used ( N = 148). Independent sample t-tests and one-sample t-tests were used to determining differences in variables. Results The sample population consisted of mainly single ( n = 104, 70.3%) Black African mothers ( n = 127, 85.8%) who identified as Christian ( n = 97, 65.6%) with a mean age of 24.8 ( SD = 5.63) years. The majority ( n = 120, 81.1%) had no prior knowledge of human milk banks; however, most ( n = 78, 52.7%) were significantly likely to donate. The main factors that influenced the participants’ willingness to donate were altruism ( n = 99, 66.9%), information provided by staff at hospitals/clinics ( n = 92, 62.2%), amount of milk produced ( n = 69, 46.4%), fear of not having enough milk for their own infant ( n = 68, 45.9%), and support from family/friends/partner ( n = 67, 45.3%). Conclusion There is a strong need to increase visibility and information sharing with potential donor mothers to ensure a sustainable supply and system of human milk banks.


2020 ◽  
pp. 089033442094180
Author(s):  
Penny Reimers ◽  
Anna Coutsoudis

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Donalisio ◽  
Valeria Cagno ◽  
Marta Vallino ◽  
Guido E. Moro ◽  
Sertac Arslanoglu ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Adane A

Background: Breast milk provides the optimal nutrition for growing infants. This is because it contains all the nutrients a baby needs in exactly the right proportions. It also contains biologically active live cells which promote health and helps to develop a passive acquired immunity by transferring antibodies developed by the mother. But, there are a large group of infants such as; pre-term, low birth weight and ill infants who are unable to breastfeed. On such condition, WHO recommends pasteurized donor human milk as the next best feeding option? However, its use is limited to industrialized countries and few developing countries. Thus, this study was designed to generate preliminary information on the knowledge and acceptability of pasteurized donor human milk banking. Methods: An institutional based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to analyze the knowledge and attitude of mothers and health professional towards pasteurized donor human milk banking. In addition, the microbial safety of raw and pasteurized breast milk stored at -20 0C for 60 days was studied. Moreover, the flavor change of raw and pasteurized breast milk over 60 days of storage time was assessed. Result: Small number of mothers (5%) ever heard about donor human milk banking. About 53.7% of health professionals did not know donor human milk banking. All health professionals use infant formula as alternative to breast milk when mother unable to breastfeed. Only 20% of study mothers could accept feeding their baby donor human milk by physician prescription. Safety or fear of transfer of disease (85.1%) was the main factor for mothers not interested to feed their baby donor human milk. On the contrary, about two-third of study mothers were willing to donate their breast milk if human milk banking will be established. Three-fourth of health professionals believed that it is feasible to establish pasteurized donor human milk banking. Lack of knowledge about its safety by mothers and health professionals is the major challenge in establishing pasteurized donor human milk banking. In pasteurized breast milk sample stored at -20 0C (deep freezer) for 60 days no bacterial growth was detected. However, in raw breast milk samples a mean of 4.66 log10 CFU/ml of total aerobic plate count, 3.22 log10 CFU/ml of Enterobacteriaceae, 3.49 log10 CFU/ml of Staphylococcus aureus were detected. Within 60 days of storage time, pasteurized milk samples did not devolve off flavor. However raw breast milk samples developed off flavor. Conclusion: the present study showed that majority (95%) of mothers never heard about pasteurized donor human milk banking and substantial number (80%) of mothers did not went to feed their baby even after short description due to fear to transfer of disease. Additionally, more than half of health professionals never heard about pasteurized donor human milk banking. Similarly, fear of disease transfer and safety during processing of pasteurized donor human milk banking is the major concern mentioned by most health professionals on its acceptability. In our microbiological analysis Within 60 days of storage time pasteurized donor human milk was bacteriological safe and has acceptable sensory quality.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 232 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Kent

The banking of human milk is expanding rapidly in both high- and low-income countries. Most milk banks serve critically ill infants, including those who are born prematurely or have low birthweight. This commentary explores the potential for extending the reach of milk banking so that it also serves many infants who are not critically ill, but would benefit from human milk from women other than their own mothers.


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