Associated factors to breast feeding practice in neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract Background Improving breast milk feeding (BF) can avoid globally per year 800000 deaths in children under 5 years old. In Morocco the breast milk feeding rate decreased from 51% to 27,8% between 1992 and 2011, the breast feeding rate in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is lower (12,4%). The objective of this study is to determine the associated factors of BF practice in NICU. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between 04 January and 20 April 2021 in NICU ward of teaching hospital Ibn Roch of Casablanca (Morocco). We included Moroccan couples mother/newborn who can practice the BF presents during the study period. We used face to face interview using questionnaire. Student, Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon and Khi2 tests were used to test association between BMF and potential associated factors. The potential associated factors with p ≤ 0.05 were considered as associated factors of BF practice. Data were analyzed using R 3.6.3. Results We included 107 couple mother/newborn. Around 77% of mothers practice BF. The mother factors associated with BF practice were: residence (30.5% rural; 69.5% urban; p = 0.007); marital status (2.4% single; 0% divorced; 97.6% married; p = 0.02); getting prior information about BF (6.2% no; 93.8%yes; p = 0.02), mother knowledge score about BF (median score yes = 10, no = 9;p= 0.03). The newborn associated factors were: hospitalization reasons (50.7% respiratory distress; 17.3% infections; 13.3% jaundice; 18.7% others; p = 0.03) and the gender (58.2% male; 41.8% female; p = 0,02) Conclusions The practice rate is lower for rural single mother who don't get any prior information about BF (lower knowledge). These mothers must get more attention from the healthcare staffs and training programs to improve the breast feeding in NICU. Key messages We can do better about the management of newborn hospitalized in NICU with actions like BF practice (promotion of breastfeeding). The benefits of breast feeding practice are significantly greater than his risks about the management of newborn hopitalized in NICU.