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Preterm Infant Enteral Feeding Practices in Saudi Arabia: A Scoping Review
Wesam A Alyahya1, Rayhana H Alsharfa1, Noor A Alduhbaki1
1Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Enteral feeding (EF) practices for preterm infants in Saudi Arabia are under-researched, with a recent increase in studies but a lack of experimental data on health outcomes. Further research is needed to establish best practices for optimal infant nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Background:
- Preterm infants face nutritional deficiencies, with enteral feeding (EF) practices varying significantly across neonatal units.
- Current evidence on best practices for EF in preterm infants is limited and influenced by geographical factors.
- Understanding regional variations in EF is crucial for improving nutritional support in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate enteral feeding practices and related nutrition factors, patterns, and outcomes in preterm infants within Saudi Arabia.
- To systematically review existing literature on EF in Saudi preterm infants.
- To identify research gaps and trends in EF practices in the region.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across five databases for articles published between January 2010 and May 2024.
- Inclusion criteria focused on studies describing or assessing EF practices in preterm infants in Saudi Arabia, published in English or Arabic.
- Manual searches of citation and reference lists were performed to identify additional relevant studies.
Main Results:
- The search yielded 1905 articles, with 14 publications meeting the inclusion criteria.
- Included studies comprised 12 observational studies, 1 conference abstract, and 1 commentary, with most research concentrated in the Central and Western Provinces.
- A significant portion of the publications (8 of 14) were published between 2021 and 2023, indicating recent growth in research activity.
Conclusions:
- Research on enteral feeding practices for preterm infants in Saudi Arabia has recently increased but remains limited.
- There is a notable paucity of experimental studies, particularly those examining both short- and long-term health outcomes.
- Further high-quality research, including randomized controlled trials, is essential to establish evidence-based EF guidelines for preterm infants in Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Preterm infants are at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies, which is further compounded by the fact that providing them with adequate nutrition is often challenging. Enteral feeding (EF) practices vary across neonatal units and can be impacted by the setting and geographical region. There is also a lack of evidence on best practices.
Objective:
To investigate EF practices and related nutrition factors, patterns, and outcomes in preterm infants in Saudi Arabia by examining studies published in this area.
Methods:
A search was conducted for articles on EF practices among preterm infants in Saudi Arabia that were published between January 2010 and May 2024. Searches were carried out across five electronic databases and through searching inward and backward citation and reference lists of relevant papers. Studies that described or assessed EF practices used in preterm infants from any region of Saudi Arabia and were published in English or Arabic were included.
Results:
The database and manual search resulted in 1905 articles. After removing duplicates and applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 14 publications were included: 12 were observational studies, 1 was a conference abstract (with retrospective analysis), and 1 was a commentary. Of these, 7 studies were conducted in the Central Province, 6 in the Western Province, and 1 in the Eastern Province. More than half of the publications (8 of 14) were published between 2021 and 2023. The studies included were categorized to three themes based on their aim: studies describing practices on mother-infant bond to encourage breastfeeding, assessing nutritional status and EF, and assessing EF as a risk factor for developing prematurity complications.
Conclusion:
While research activity on EF practices in Saudi Arabia has increased very recently, yet there is a paucity of studies, particularly experimental studies that focus on both short- and long-term health outcomes.
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