Factors Associated with an Inadequate Volume of Expressed Milk Among Mothers of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units of Government Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Around 15 million live newborns are born prematurely each year around the world before 37 weeks. One cause of inadequate nursing is prematurity. The goal of this study was to find parameters linked to an insufficient volume of expressed milk among mothers of preterm and low birth weight neonates at government hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

An nstitution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 124 mothers who were available in neonatal intensive care units during the study period in government hospitals that provided such units.

Results

One-third of the responders (33.9%) were unable to express the necessary amount of milk. An inadequate volume of expressed breast milk was significantly associated with a baby’s stable health status (AOR=0.24; CI=0.07–0.86), the fair (subcritical) health status of the baby (AOR=0.178; CI=0.04–0.76), worry about the volume of milk (AOR=7.50; CI=3.32–16.95), and worry about the baby’s health status (AOR=4.63; CI=2.21–9.70).

Conclusion

According to our findings, 33.9% of mothers were unable to express sufficient amounts of milk. To produce an adequate volume of expressed breast milk, health care workers must address mothers’ psychological issues in the neonatal intensive care units and give all necessary care to prevent neonatal deterioration.

Keywords:

• inadequate volume
• breast milk expression
• preterm
• low birth weight
• neonatal intensive care unit

Acknowledgment

We are very grateful to Addis Ababa University for sponsoring this research. We would like to express our most heartfelt thanks to the women who participated in this study and for sharing such useful information. We would like to thank mothers who participated in this study by sharing important information with us. Lastly, we extend our deepest thanks to data collectors. This is an extract from the thesis entitled “Breast Milk Expression Practice and Factors Affecting It Among Mothers of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Government Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020”, available in Addis Ababa University archive but not published. It is the common work of the three authors of this manuscript; see URI: http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/ 123456789/24204).¹⁷

Author Contributions

All authors contributed significantly to the work reported, whether in the conception, study design, execution, data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation, or all of these areas; participated in the drafting, revising, or critical review of the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agreed on the journal to which the article was submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare no financial or non-financial competing interests in this work.