Risk Factors for Not Breastfeeding at Discharge in Mothers of Preterm Infants

• Background: Breastfeeding has nutritional, cognitive and immunological advantages compared to formula feeding1. Breastfeeding rates among preterm infants are lower than in term infants2. The aim was to investigate risk factors for not breastfeeding at discharge in mothers of preterm infants.Method: In this registry study, data on maternal and infant health were obtained from the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register (SNQ). The study included data on 29.445 preterm infants (<37 gestational weeks, gw) and their mothers who were discharged to home and where information on breastfeeding was available 2004-2013.Results: During the study period (2004-2013), there was a statistical significant increase in the proportion of mothers with a notification of any illness (15% to 29%), mental illness (2% to 6%), administration of antenatal corticosteroids (31% to 34%) and infants born small for age (4% to 9%). Factors that had a statistical significant adjusted odds ratios for not breastfeeding at discharge were; notification of any illness in mother 1.7 (1.5-1.8), mental illness 1.9 (1.6-2.2), gestational diabetes 1.8 (1.4-2.2), administration of antenatal corticosteroids 1.1 (1.0-1.2), cesarean sectio 1.6 (1.5-1.8), multiple births 1.3 (1.2-1.4), infants gestational week at birth: 22-27 gw 5.6 (4.8-6.5), 28-31 gw 2.6 (2.3-3.0) (gw 32-36 ref.), small for age 1.2 (1.1-1.4), and neonatal illness 1.4 (1.2-1.6).Conclusions: The strongest risk factors for not breastfeeding at discharge were low gestational weeks at birth, maternal illnesses and caesarean sectio. These findings are important and present challenges to health care to improve breastfeeding outcomes in these vulnerable groups of mothers and infants. References: 1. Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJD, França GVA, Horton S, Krasevec J, et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. The Lancet.387(10017):475-490. 2. Flacking R, Nyqvist KH, Ewald U. Effects of socioeconomic status on breastfeeding duration in mothers of preterm and term infants. European journal of public health. 2007;17(6):579-584.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Breastfeeding

newborn infant

premature infant

neonatal intensive care

Pediatrik

Pediatrics

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