Factors Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding in the State of Kuwait

Aim: To determine the factors influencing breastfeeding continuation for the first six months of a baby's life.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted by the research team via an interview-based questionnaire and interviewer at Al-Sabah Maternity Hospital. A total of 316 Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti subjects participated in this study. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were conducted to examine the factors influencing breastfeeding.Results: A total of 196 (62%) of the mothers practiced any feeding, including formula and/or breast milk, only 12.3% of the mothers exclusively breastfed their babies for the first six months of life. Highly educated mothers were less likely to breastfeed than less educated mothers (OR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.05-0.45). Not using pacifiers was positively associated with breastfeeding (OR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.32-3.51). More than a third of the mothers reported stopping breastfeeding due to lack of lactation places in public and workplaces (50%) and insufficient milk production to support infant growth (32%).Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of creating a supportive environment in workplaces and public areas to encourage mothers to breastfeed. Interventions for enhancing knowledge and promoting breastfeeding are advised, focusing on factors associated with early cessation.

Feeding Twins with Human Milk and Factors Associated with Its Duration: A Qualitative and Quantitative Study in Southern Italy

Background: Over the past year, there has been a rise in twin births. The current scientific consensus recommended breast-feed milk for all newborns for at least 6 months. They stated that it is possible to meet the nutritional needs of two or more newborns with only one mother’s milk. More information would be desirable about the factors that influence or lead to the initiation and interruption of breastfeeding. The quality of the evidence available from multiple studies has been inconclusive and therefore led to controversial interpretations and practices. Aims: The first aim of this study was to analyze the extent of the feeding of multiples with breast milk in the experience of our clinical unit in terms of incidence and duration. The second objective was to evaluate the correlation between maternal, perinatal and neonatal variables with breast milk feeding rates and duration. Methods: The study was conducted between 2015 and 2020, in a NICU in Southern Italy (San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia). Sixty-one women who have given birth to multiples were enrolled into the study. Newborn data were retrospectively collected by informatic database and breastfeeding information were collected by a questionnaire. Results: In our centre, the percentage of twins out of the total number of births over the years has almost doubled from 1.28% in 2015 to 2.48% in 2020 and the 88% of twins are premature. 18.1% received breast milk for more than 6 months and 6.3% received it for more than 12 months. Infants of lower gestational age and weight, born to multiparous, more mature and medium-high schooling mothers received breast milk for a longer period. 35% of women explained that the interruption of breastfeeding was due to the insufficient milk production and 41% to the stress and difficulties in managing the twins. Qualitative analysis of maternal narrative revealed, for many of them, the awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and the efforts made to try to give breast milk, but also fears about the quantity of milk and satiety of their children. Conclusions: It is important to identify the factors both favoring and obstructing maternal milk feeding of multiples and it would be desirable the activation of a network of training and support for mothers after discharge, with particular regard to the categories found to be less inclined.

Breastfeeding Mothers’ Consumption and Perceived Efficacy of Foods, Beverages, and Herbal Supplements to Increase Milk Supply

Objectives Perceived insufficient milk is a common reason that mothers wean prior to the Academy of Pediatrics recommended 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding with continued breastfeeding through ≥ 12 months. Prior research indicates that mothers modify their dietary intake to address milk supply concerns. The current study fills a gap in the literature regarding the prevalence, perceived efficacy, and predictors of foods, beverages, and herbal supplements that U.S. mothers consume to increase milk supply. Methods Paid Facebook advertisements were used to recruit breastfeeding mothers (≥18 years, living in the U.S.) into an online, cross-sectional survey. Participants self-reported their demographic characteristics, breastfeeding experiences, and consumption and perceived efficacy of 11 foods, 7 beverages, and 9 herbal supplements for increasing milk supply. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all study variables. The association between maternal perceived insufficient milk and consumption of any foods/beverages (yes/no) or any herbal supplements (yes/no) to increase milk supply was examined via Fisher's exact tests. Results Participants (N = 192) primarily identified as white (90%) and married or partnered (94%); 15% were WIC participants. Most (84%) felt they produced enough milk to satisfy their child. Over half (55%) previously or currently consumed foods/beverages to increase milk supply, and 29% consumed herbal supplements. The most commonly consumed foods/beverages were oats (47%), sports drinks (34%), store-bought lactation cookies (26%) and lactation tea (20%). Store-bought lactation cookies were perceived as the most effective at increasing milk supply (50%). The most commonly consumed herbal supplement was a combination supplement (25%), of whom, 40% believed it increased milk supply. Fenugreek was the most commonly consumed single herbal supplement (13%); 42% believed it increased milk supply. Maternal perceived insufficient milk was associated with ever consuming foods/beverages to increase milk supply (p = .04), and herbal supplements (p = .02). Conclusions Many breastfeeding mothers consume foods, beverages and/or herbal supplements to increase milk supply, signaling an urgent need for research on the effects of dietary intake on human milk production, and maternal and child health outcomes. Funding Sources None.

Effect of Early Supplemental Formula Intervention on Body Weight and Hyperbilirubinemia in Neonates During 72 h After Birth

Background: The full breastfeeding may lead to insufficient milk intake of newborns and increase the rate of body weight loss (BWL). Severe BWL was generally believed as a cause of significant hyperbilirubinemia in newborn babies. The study aimed to investigate the effect if early supplemental feeding in newborns with birth weight loss at the first 3 days after birth could decrease the rate of hyperbilirubinemia 72 h of birth.Methods: A total of 395 neonates with gestational age >37 weeks and birth body weight >2500g were prospectively collected between 2016 and 2018. We analyzed 280 neonates with BWL rate reaching the predictive value (4.5%, 7.5%, and 8% on the first, second, third day after birth, respectively) for subsequent hyperbilirubinemia after 72 hours after birth. The enrolled cases were divided into four subgroups as interventional consecutive milk supplement for 0, 1, 2, and 3 days after birth for further analysisResults: For newborns with BWL reaching the predictive value on the first day after birth, the serum bilirubin levels were lower in the experimental group than those in the non-involved control group (p < 0.05). For newborns with three consecutive days of interventional milk supplementation, the serum bilirubin levels at the 72 h after birth showed the lowest levels compared with the other sub-groups with two consecutive days and one consecutive day of interventional milk supplementation (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significantly decreasing trend in the consecutive days of interventional milk supplementation (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Newborns with BWL over 4.5% on the first day after birth receiving early intervention milk supplementation could significantly reduce serum bilirubin levels at the72 h after birth. The more days of consecutive milk supplementation after birth may lead to the lower the 72 h serum bilirubin levels. It is recommended to early and consecutive milk supplementation after birth to be an effective way in reducing serum bilirubin levels.

EXPERIENCE OF CONTROLLING ZOOPHILLIC FLIES IN CATTLE FARMS IN THE IVANOVO REGION

Zoophillic flies cause great harm to animal husbandry, which consists of two components: flies carry pathogens of various infectious and invasive diseases on their bodies; microorganisms spread by flies cause damage to livestock products. During the period of flying in large numbers, such damage consists of insufficient milk and a decrease in the daily weight gain of animals. The faunistic collection of zoophillic flies was carried out in calve sheds – prophylactorium houses of cattle farms in the Ivanovo region, Palekhsky district. The comparative efficacy of insecticides with the active substance (AS) thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, and cypermethrin was assessed. The analysis of the data obtained shows that the fauna of zoophillic flies in livestock farms is represented by three families: Calliphoridae (51%), Muscidae (48.2%) and Anthomyiidae (0.8%). The fastest effect of acute insecticidal activity was observed in the drug with the AS imidacloprid, namely, 4 minutes after insects contacting with treated surfaces. In drugs with the AS thiamethoxam and cypermethrin, insecticidal properties appeared after 8 minutes. The longest insecticidal effect was observed in the drug with the AS imidacloprid, it was 13 days, while in drugs with the AS thiamethoxam and cypermethrin, it was just over half of this period.

Barriers to exclusive breastfeeding: A cross-sectional study among mothers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding provides numerous benefits to the health of infants, mothers, economics, and the environment. However, during the exclusive breastfeeding period, the mothers face many barriers.Objective: This study aimed to describe the perceived barrier of breastfeeding and compare its differences among mothers in Vietnam according to demographic and individual characteristics.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 women in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Data were derived from the original survey using a self-administered questionnaire asking about the barriers of breastfeeding in three aspects: maternal, infant, and socio-environment. Descriptive statistics, Independent t-test, and ANOVA were used to describe the mothers’ characteristics and the breastfeeding barriers.Results: The barrier from the infants was the most noticeable, followed by socio-environment and maternal barriers, respectively. Breastfeeding in public places (M = 2.93, SD = 0.92), baby’s illness (M = 2.74, SD = 0.99), and insufficient milk supply (M = 2.70, SD =0.99) were considered as major barriers to six-month exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Among the age groups, mothers who were more than 35 years old perceived had lower breastfeeding barriers than the younger mothers (F = 3.67, p = 0.03).Conclusion: The investigation of the barriers against exclusive breastfeeding practice can help nurses and midwives develop breastfeeding promotion programs to promote exclusive breastfeeding rate for women in Vietnam.Funding: This study was funded by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.