New mothers and their understanding about breast milk donation

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the understanding of mothers about the donation of human milk. Methods: a qualitative and quantitative study with 13 potential milk donors who answered a sociodemographic and obstetric background questionnaire, as well as a semi-structured interview guide on milk donation. Mothers were approached in the hospital environment, after delivery and the visit of the milk bank. Data were analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20.0 and NVivo 11 Starter. Results: the mean age was 24.62 ± 3.95 years; 84.6% had more than eleven years of formal education; 38.5% declared themselves housewives; 46.2% were in a stable union and 76.9% had an income of up to two minimum wages. Most of the mothers (69.2%) experienced previous pregnancy; 76.9% had 6 or more prenatal consultations and 62.5% had previously breastfed. The motivating factors of the donation were altruism; empathy with other mothers; recognition of the primacy of breast milk; the child's understanding of breast milk need; excess milk production and family support. Unawareness of the process, limited time available, and lack of transportation and collection points can make donation difficult. Conclusions: there was a desire for information and support for breastfeeding and donation, which made the donation act complex and distant from reality.

Realidade do aleitamento materno cruzado em Maternidade Filantrópica de Aracaju, Sergipe

“…O grau de instrução da nutriz, mostrou-se em um estudo como fator positivo para a doação de leite materno e à prática da amamentação, uma vez que um nível maior de instrução se correlaciona com maior acesso à informação e mais facilidade de entendimento das informações sobre a importância tanto da doação quanto da amamentação (Buges;Klinger;Pereira, 2020). Entretanto, observou-se que apesar de muitas mães conhecerem o Banco de Leite Humano (BLH), poucas delas afirmaram ser doadoras, o que revela que além de resistência (seja por motivos culturais, religiosos ou higiênicos), há muitas vezes a falta de comunicação entre a entidade materna e equipe de saúde (Karadag et al, 2015).…”