The number of late-preterm (LPT) infant births has increased in the last five years and accounts for 72.4% of live births at less than 37 weeks gestation. In the meantime, early-term (ET) infants represent 26% of all live births and 29% of all live births at greater than or equal to 37 weeks gestation. Infants born LPT and ET are at greater risk for neonatal morbidities including hypoglycemia, jaundice, temperature instability, feeding difficulties, dehydration, and infection during the first weeks of life than full-term infants. Despite the well-established benefits of breastfeeding, these morbidities may affect feeding behavior.
LPT and ET infants have lower breastfeeding rates than FT infants. The purpose of this study was to assess breastfeeding exclusivity and rate of breastfeeding, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and satisfaction with breastfeeding after hospital discharge among low-income women with late-preterm and early-term infants compared with women with full-term infants. We conducted a prospective, comparative, with repeated measures study in four Midwestern U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children offices. Participants included 270 mother–infant dyads. We assessed breastfeeding exclusivity, rate of breastfeeding, and breastfeeding self-efficacy at two weeks, two months, and five months and satisfaction with breastfeeding at five months after birth or when participants stopped breastfeeding.
We found that more than 50% of women in each subgroup were non-Hispanic White. Late-preterm and early-term infants had lower breastfeeding exclusivity rates than full-term infants across the three time points. The overall exclusive breastfeeding rate for all groups was 55.93% at two weeks, 44.07% at two months, and 20.37% at five months; 55.56% continued any breastfeeding at five months. Breastfeeding self-efficacy during the first five months after birth, satisfaction with breastfeeding, level of education, and attending breastfeeding classes were positively correlated with breastfeeding exclusivity. We found significantly less exclusive breastfeeding, lower breastfeeding self-efficacy, and lower satisfaction with breastfeeding among participants with late-preterm and early term infants compared to those with full-term infants.
Late-preterm (LPT) and early-term (ET) infant births have increased in the last five years. LPT and ET infants have lower breastfeeding rates than full-term infants. In a study of mother-infant dyads in four Midwestern U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children offices, the overall exclusive breastfeeding rate for all groups was 55.56% at five months. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, satisfaction with breastfeeding, level of education, and attending breastfeeding classes were positively correlated with breastfeeding exclusivity. We concluded that ongoing professional breastfeeding support for women is needed to improve and promote breastfeeding exclusivity and continuation among late-preterm and early-term infants.
Original Article:
Ahmed, A. H., & Rojjanasrirat, W. (2021). Breastfeeding Outcomes, Self-Efficacy, and Satisfaction Among Low-Income Women with Late-Preterm, Early-Term, and Full-Term Infants. Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing: JOGNN, 50(5), 583–596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2021.06.010
Azza Ahmed is an associate professor and director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the School of Nursing in Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
