Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Human Milk Banking Among Antenatal Mothers in Selected Hospitals, Assam

Breast milk is the most important thing for the new born baby as it contains all the primary nutrient required for the newborn baby. Human milk is the best source of nutrition for all newborn babies. More specifically, a mother's breast milk is the first choice of nutrition for those who are preterm, have low birth weight, and are unwell. Donor human milk and Breast milk have been shown to be the ideal nutritional option for the most delicate and vulnerable newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. The advantages of breast milk to a child are so essential that even the mother's absence must not deprive the baby of them. While a few mothers are urgently attempting to breastfeed their kids despite limited success owing to physical infirmities, surgery, or chronic diseases, others are unable to give them formula because of the stress, agony, and stomach distress it causes in their babies. The origin of the donation of human milk can be traced to the early days of wet nursing where babies and children were fed by parents, families, and even strangers, in 1980, a joint declaration was issued by the World Health organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) endorsing the use of voluntary donor milk as the first option if the biological mother cannot breastfeed. However, due to the development of the formula milk industry in the world, the use of donor human milk is declining in most of the world. A human milk bank (HMB) is a rigorous service established to recruit breast milk donors, collect donated milk, pasteurize screen, store, and distribute safe donor human milk which is free from any physical, chemical, or microbiological contaminants or pathogens to meet infants’ specific needs for optimal nutrition and health. The use of expressed human milk for infant feeding, whether through peer-to-peer human milk sharing or commercial markets for human milk and derivative products, is growing globally. Currently, there are more than 500 human milk banks operating in more than 37 countries worldwide, and the number of human milk banks in continuously increasing. However, in Africa, the number of human milk banks established is not more than ten.

Objectives:

1. To assess the level of knowledge regarding human milk banking among antenatal mothers.

2. To assess the level of attitude regarding human milk banking among antenatal mothers.

3. To find out the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding human milk banking among antenatal mothers.

4. To find out the association between knowledge and selected demographic variables regarding human milk banking among antenatal mothers.

5. To find out the association between attitude and selected demographic variables regarding human milk banking among antenatal mothers.

METHODOLOGY

A non- experimental descriptive study was conducted among 100 women on antenatal mothers in selected hospitals, Assam to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding human milk banking. The study was conducted in Swahid-Tilak-Hemram-Gunabhiram Civil hospital, Marwari Maternity Hospital, Satribari Christian Hospital, Assam the setting was selected according to researchers convenient.  The study was conducted after administrative permission was taken from Dean, Faculty of Nursing, Assam down town University, Guwahati. The ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee of Assam down town University, Guwahati. The study was conducted from 14th February to 16th March 2024 on 100 women in antenatal mothers using Simple random sampling technique. The tools used for data collection was demographic variables, structured knowledge questionnaire and 3-point Likert scale for attitude statement regarding human milk banking among antenatal mothers. The data obtained was analyzed in terms of objectives of the study by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Sample Size:

Sample size was decided according to the objectives, resources available, nature of study, method of sampling followed, nature of respondent and nature of population. In this study samples size consists of 100 antenatal mothers that are fulfilling the inclusion criteria. In this study, the Cochran sample size calculation formula was used for calculating the sample size is as follows:

n = Z²p (1-p)/e²

Z = 1.96 (at 95% Cl)

e = 0.05 (at 95% Cl)

p = 0.06%

Where n is the sample size, Z is the significance level or reliability level (for significance level at 95%) where, p is expected population probability and e is accepting error (e=0.05).

Inclusion criteria:

In this study, the inclusion criteria are antenatal mothers who:

• Gives consent for participation.
• Are available during data collection.
• Are attending Antenatal OPD.
• Can read and understand Hindi, Assamese, and English.

Exclusion criteria:

In this study, the exclusion criteria are antenatal mothers who are:

• In labour pain.

RESULTS

The study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding human milk banking among antenatal mothers admitted in selected hospitals, Assam.

Table 1: Frequency and Percentage Distribution of Selected Demographic Variables of Antenatal Mothers Regarding Human Milk Banking. n = 100