Complementary feeding in infants born prematurely.

Larissa Vieira Pinto Menezes,Carla Steinberg,Ana Caline Nóbrega

doi:10.1590/2317-1782/20182017157

Larissa Vieira Pinto Menezes, Carla Steinberg + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20182017157

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Journal: CoDAS	Publication Date: Oct 11, 2018
Citations: 8	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Hospital Ana Nery, Universidade Federal da Bahia

Abstract

To investigate if there is difficulty in introducing complementary feeding in premature infants. This is an exploratory, cross-sectional study performed in premature infants between six and twenty-four months of gestationally corrected age, using complementary feeding. Thirty-eight infants born prematurely were included. The feeding difficulties presented by the infants were investigated through an objective question followed by the application of a food behavior checklist for the last month. The children's clinical variables were investigated through a medical record review. An interview was conducted with those responsible for the child to identify the sociodemographic aspects and the type of breastfeeding before the corrected six months of age. Asked about the general perception, 50% of parents answered that their children did not present feeding difficulties in the last month. However, when a checklist was applied, 73.7% of the parents reported that their children had at least one defensive behavior at mealtime. Refusal to open their mouths (42.1%), food selectivity (28.9%), and feeding refusal (26.3%) were the most frequent defensive behaviors. The food refusal item (44.4%) had a greater association with formula feeding (p = 0.033). The present study showed an association between the type of breastfeeding and the difficulties in complementary feeding, especially in premature infants with formula feeding, presenting food refusal during meals. We found the presence of different types of defensive behaviors at mealtime in the majority of premature infants investigated.

Highlights

Preterm or premature infants are part of a large and heterogeneous group of children born before 37 gestational weeks[1]
All the children in the sample (N = 38) had alternative feeding and none of the exclusively breastfed infant had any kind of parafunctional habit before the sixth month of gestationally corrected age
After the application of the checklist, the food refusal item presented a greater association (p = 0.033) with formula feeding, 44.4% of the infants presented this defensive behavior during meals

Summary

Introduction

Preterm or premature infants are part of a large and heterogeneous group of children born before 37 gestational weeks[1]. These infants may evolve with ranging deficiencies from the most subtle to the most severe, with important physiological impact. Faced with the immaturity of many organs and systems, they are at a higher risk of morbimortality when compared to children born at term[2]. In this sense, prematurity is one of the main causes of infant mortality and morbidity associated with perinatal conditions in Brazil, accounting for 45% of deaths among newborns. The North region leads the profile change with an increase in the rate of prematurity from 5.5% to 10%, followed by the Northeast region, which increased from 6% to 10.5%, and the Central West region from 6.8% to 10%(3)

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