Abstract
Objective: to verify the prevalence of breastfeeding of preterm infants in neonatal units. Methods: an exploratory, cross-sectional study was performed at a Child-Friendly Hospital with 21 premature infants and their mothers. Interviews and a survey of medical records were performed using a form to collect data, which were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results: the onset of milk feeding and breastfeeding was, respectively, 61.7 hours and 17.2 days on average. At hospital discharge, 47.6% of the preterm infants were breastfed; 47.6% were on exclusive breastfeeding; and 4.8% were on artificial milk feeding. At home, there were no changes in feeding patterns at seven to fifteen days after hospital discharge. Conclusion: it is necessary to strengthen actions for promotion, protection and support that encourage the practice of breastfeeding.
Highlights
Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and, after pneumonia, the second leading cause of death among under-five children[1]
The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in full-term and preterm infants is still lower than that recommended by the World Health Organization, which advises that all infants receive only breast milk up to six months of age and continue on breastfeeding in a complementary manner for at least two years of life[3]
The inclusion criteria for preterm infants were: admission to neonatal units within the first 48 hours of life and return to the follow up clinic within the first 15 days after hospital discharge, which is the period in which the mother/family is in the process of adjustment and need support for the maintenance of breastfeeding[6]
Summary
Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and, after pneumonia, the second leading cause of death among under-five children[1]. In the Brazilian context, the increase in the incidence of prematurity and low birth weight has been registered in capitals and larger cities, and a premature birth rate of 9.2% has been estimated in the country[2]. Prematurity is an aggravating factor for the health of newborns admitted to neonatal units for prolonged periods, for they are a risk group in terms of onset and maintenance of breastfeeding. Low-weight preterm infants who were breastfed had shorter hospital stay, better prognosis for neurodevelopment, decreased weight loss, decreased index of chronic and acute diseases, and increased survival compared to those breastfed with industrialized milk[4,5]
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