Supervisors info:
Αντωνάκου Αγγελική, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Μαιευτικής, Διεθνές Πανεπιστήμιο της Ελλάδος, Επιβλέπουσα
Μπριάνα Δέσποινα, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή ΕΚΠΑ
Χαρμανδάρη Ευαγγελία, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
BACKGROUND: The benefits of breastfeeding for premature (and non-premature) infants are multiple for both the infant and the mother. Especially in cases of prematurity, the possibil-ity of developing an illness in the infant is high, and for this reason, breast milk is recommend-ed, which can protect the infant.
AIM: The dissertation aims to investigate the factors that influence breastfeeding in premature infants with an emphasis on knowledge and self-efficacy regarding breastfeeding practice. The research objectives analyzed are the investigation of whether women who have given birth to premature infants breastfeed or not, the examination of whether the profile of women plays an important role in the breastfeeding of the premature infant, the investigation of the factors that play an important role in the breastfeeding of the premature infant infants and fi-nally, the development of suggestions on how women could be helped to breastfeed their premature infants.
METHODOLOGY: Quantitative research was conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was distributed via Google Forms, on social media groups-pages and forums visited by mothers of preterm infants. In addition to socio-demographic and factors related to pregnancy and childbirth, the research focus was on knowledge and self-efficacy about breastfeeding. The research sample consists of 154 participants, who gave birth to premature babies within the last 6 months.
RESULTS: The findings of the statistical analysis demonstrated a positive association be-tween breastfeeding in preterm infants and maternal self-efficacy. Accordingly, the associa-tion between maternal knowledge/information and breastfeeding in preterm infants is positive. Critical to the initiation and success of breastfeeding is the support the mother receives from her close and wider environment, as well as from the medical, midwifery and nursing staff. Finally, age, education, but also factors related to pregnancy, delivery and the subsequent health of the infant similarly affect breastfeeding in premature infants.
CONCLUSIONS: Women with higher levels of self-efficacy and knowledge through breast-feeding programs are more likely to exclusively breastfeed their premature infants compared to exclusively formula feeding. Furthermore, women with higher levels of self-efficacy and knowledge, who are younger and whose infants spent less time in the NICU, are more likely to practice mixed feeding compared to exclusively formula feeding.
Keywords:
Breastfeeding, Premature Infants, Self-Efficacy, Knowledge
