[Duration of breastfeeding in preterm infants followed at a secondary referral service]
Brunnella Alcantara Chagas de Freitas1, Luciana Moreira Lima1, Carla Fernanda Lisboa Valente Carlos2
1Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, MG, Brasil.
Insights
Preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestation and those not exclusively breastfed at the first visit had significantly shorter breastfeeding durations. These factors combined further reduced breastfeeding duration, falling below recommended guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric nutrition
- Lactation science
Background:
- Preterm infants often face challenges with breastfeeding.
- Optimal breastfeeding duration is crucial for infant health and development.
- Understanding factors influencing breastfeeding cessation in this population is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze variables associated with shorter breastfeeding duration in preterm infants.
- To determine risk factors for breastfeeding discontinuation in premature infants.
- To provide evidence for targeted interventions to improve breastfeeding outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of preterm infants (2010-2015).
- Inclusion criteria: first appointment within one month corrected age, ≥3 consultations.
- Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox regression.
Main Results:
- Median breastfeeding duration was 5.0 months, below recommended levels.
- Infants with gestational age <32 weeks had a 2.6-fold higher risk of discontinuation.
- Infants receiving supplementation at the first visit had a 3-fold higher risk of interruption compared to exclusively breastfed infants.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding duration in preterm infants is often suboptimal.
- Early gestational age (<32 weeks) and non-exclusive breastfeeding at the first visit are significant risk factors for discontinuation.
- The combined effect of these factors potentiates negative impacts on breastfeeding duration.
Objective:
Identify and analyze variables associated with shorter duration of breastfeeding in preterm infants.
Methods:
Retrospective cohort of premature infants followed up at secondary referral service in the period of 2010-2015.
Inclusion:
first appointment in the first month of corrected age and have undergone three or more consultations. Exclusion: diseases that impaired oral feeding.
Outcome:
duration of breastfeeding. A total of 103 preterm infants were evaluated, accounting for 28.8% of the preterm infants born in the municipality in that period, with a power of study of 80%. Descriptive analysis, t-test, chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression were used. p-values<0.05 were considered significant.
Results:
The median duration of breastfeeding among preterm infants was 5.0 months. The risk of breastfeeding discontinuation among preterm infants with gestational age <32 weeks was 2.6-fold higher than for those born at 32 weeks or more and the risk of breastfeeding interruption in preterm infants who were receiving breastfeeding supplementation in the first outpatient visit was 3-fold higher when compared to those who were exclusively breastfed in the first consultation.
Conclusions:
The median duration of breastfeeding in preterm infants was below the recommended one and discontinuation was associated with gestational <32 weeks and the fact that the infant was no longer receiving exclusive breastfeeding in the first outpatient visit. When these two variables were associated, their negative effect on the median duration of breastfeeding was potentiated.
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