Facilitators and Barriers of Human Milk Donation

The purpose of this study is to examine perceptions and experiences of women who donate human milk and highlight various aspects of the breast milk donation process.

A cross-sectional descriptive study.

An online survey was conducted with a convenience sample of women who donated milk at several milk banks in the United States. A questionnaire of 36 closed and open-ended items were developed and validated by the research team. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used. Semantic content analysis involved three procedures: coding, categorizing text units, and refining the identified themes.

A total of 236 women who donated breast milk completed the questionnaire. Mean age of participants was 32.7±4.27 and 89.40% were non-Hispanic White women with a bachelor's degree (32.20%) or graduate degree (54.70%). Most participants were women who actively donated breast milk, ranging from one to four times. Two themes, facilitators and barriers of milk donation, were identified. Facilitators to milk donation included attitudes toward milk donation, commitment for donating, motivation in donating, and support. Barriers included personal factors, environment, milk donor process, and psychosocial factors.

Nurses, health care providers, and lactation professionals should educate women about milk donation resources and opportunities. Strategies to increase awareness about milk donation among underrepresented groups such as women of color are highly recommended. Future research is needed to further explore specific factors that increase milk donation awareness and minimize barriers to potential donors.