Knowledge and Acceptability Towards Human Milk Bank Use Among Women Attending Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Tanzania

Breast milk is the gold standard of infant nutrition, providing powerful nutritional and immunological protection and decreased mortality due to infection. The World Health Organization recommends using human breast milk from a milk bank if the mother is unable to provide for her own child.

To determine the knowledge and acceptance of donor human milk use among women attending the Haydom Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania.

An analytical cross-sectional study collected data at the Reproductive and Child Health Care, Neonatal Care units and postnatal ward at Haydom Lutheran Hospital. A total of 260 mothers aged ≥ 18 were included in the study.

In all, 86% of participants were unaware of human milk banks, 75% had limited knowledge of them, and 67% were willing to donate milk. Fear of having insufficient milk for their infants was the main reason for not donating. A total of 61% would use donated milk. Infectious diseases were the main reason for not using donated milk. In all, 89% who agreed to use donated milk were willing to donate and 67% of those who opposed using donated milk were unwilling to donate. Level of education was associated with willingness to donate (AOR 4.79, 95% CI [1.3, 17.6], p = 0.018) and receive donated breast milk (AOR 6.01. 95% CI [1.6, 23.2], p < 0.01).

We found high potential acceptability for donating and using human donor milk for infants, with the only association being the level of education. However, further engagement is needed to foster awareness of its importance for communities while addressing cultural, religious, and health concerns.