TY - JOUR
T1 - Enteral Feeding Practices for Very Preterm and Very Low Birth Weight Infants in Nigeria and Kenya
AU - on behalf of the Neonatal Nutrition Network (NeoNuNet)
AU - Tongo, Olukemi O.
AU - Olwala, Macrine A.
AU - Talbert, Alison W.
AU - Nabwera, Helen M.
AU - Akindolire, Abimbola E.
AU - Otieno, Walter
AU - Nalwa, Grace M.
AU - Andang'o, Pauline E.A.
AU - Mwangome, Martha K.
AU - Abdulkadir, Isa
AU - Ezeaka, Chinyere V.
AU - Ezenwa, Beatrice N.
AU - Fajolu, Iretiola B.
AU - Imam, Zainab O.
AU - Umoru, Dominic D.
AU - Abubakar, Ismaela
AU - Embleton, Nicholas D.
AU - Allen, Stephen J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Tongo, Olwala, Talbert, Nabwera, Akindolire, Otieno, Nalwa, Andang'o, Mwangome, Abdulkadir, Ezeaka, Ezenwa, Fajolu, Imam, Umoru, Abubakar, Embleton and Allen.
PY - 2022/5/11
Y1 - 2022/5/11
N2 - Background: Optimizing nutrition in very preterm (28–32 weeks gestation) and very low birth weight (VLBW; 1,000 g to <1,500 g) infants has potential to improve their survival, growth, and long-term health outcomes. Aim: To assess feeding practices in Nigeria and Kenya for very preterm and VLBW newborn infants. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study where convenience sampling was used. A standard questionnaire was sent to doctors working in neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya. Results: Of 50 respondents, 37 (74.0%) were from Nigeria and 13 (26.0%) from Kenya. All initiated enteral feeds with breastmilk, with 24 (48.0%) initiating within 24 h. Only 28 (56.0%) used written feeding guidelines. Starting volumes ranged between 10 and 80 ml/kg/day. Median volume advancement of feeds was 20 ml/kg/day (IQR 10–20) with infants reaching full feeds in 8 days (IQR 6–12). 26 (52.0%) of the units fed the infants 2 hourly. Breastmilk fortification was practiced in 7 (14.0%) units, while folate, iron, calcium, and phosphorus were prescribed in 42 (84.0%), 36 (72.0%), 22 (44.0%), 5 (10.0%) of these units, respectively. No unit had access to donor breastmilk, and only 18 (36.0%) had storage facilities for expressed breastmilk. Twelve (24.0%) used wet nurses whilst 30 (60.0%) used formula feeds. Conclusion: Feeding practices for very preterm and VLBW infants vary widely within Nigeria and Kenya, likely because of lack of locally generated evidence. High quality research that informs the feeding of these infants in the context of limited human resources, technology, and consumables, is urgently needed.
AB - Background: Optimizing nutrition in very preterm (28–32 weeks gestation) and very low birth weight (VLBW; 1,000 g to <1,500 g) infants has potential to improve their survival, growth, and long-term health outcomes. Aim: To assess feeding practices in Nigeria and Kenya for very preterm and VLBW newborn infants. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study where convenience sampling was used. A standard questionnaire was sent to doctors working in neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya. Results: Of 50 respondents, 37 (74.0%) were from Nigeria and 13 (26.0%) from Kenya. All initiated enteral feeds with breastmilk, with 24 (48.0%) initiating within 24 h. Only 28 (56.0%) used written feeding guidelines. Starting volumes ranged between 10 and 80 ml/kg/day. Median volume advancement of feeds was 20 ml/kg/day (IQR 10–20) with infants reaching full feeds in 8 days (IQR 6–12). 26 (52.0%) of the units fed the infants 2 hourly. Breastmilk fortification was practiced in 7 (14.0%) units, while folate, iron, calcium, and phosphorus were prescribed in 42 (84.0%), 36 (72.0%), 22 (44.0%), 5 (10.0%) of these units, respectively. No unit had access to donor breastmilk, and only 18 (36.0%) had storage facilities for expressed breastmilk. Twelve (24.0%) used wet nurses whilst 30 (60.0%) used formula feeds. Conclusion: Feeding practices for very preterm and VLBW infants vary widely within Nigeria and Kenya, likely because of lack of locally generated evidence. High quality research that informs the feeding of these infants in the context of limited human resources, technology, and consumables, is urgently needed.
KW - Kenya
KW - Nigeria
KW - feeding practices
KW - very low birth weight
KW - very preterm
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130900250&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fped.2022.892209
DO - 10.3389/fped.2022.892209
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130900250
SN - 2296-2360
VL - 10
JO - Frontiers in Pediatrics
JF - Frontiers in Pediatrics
M1 - 892209
ER -