Perception and Practices Related to Breast Milk Donation and Acceptance among Donor and Recipient’s Mothers of a Breast Milk Bank at a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

Abstract

Background: Human Milk Banks (HMB) ensure the availability of pasteurized donor breast milk for small for
gestational age babies, low birth weight infants, sick new born and infants of mothers with failed lactation.
Objectives: To assess the perception, practices and associated factors of breast milk donation and acceptance
among donor and recipient’s mothers registered with the breast milk bank.
Methodology: This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted between July to September 2019 among
70 donors and 70 beneficiaries who were mothers of children under 6 months of age, registered at the breast milk
bank at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. Data was collected by interview of the mothers with a predesigned
semi-structured questionnaire.
Results: Only 74% of them were aware of breast milk bank services. Almost 47 (67.1%) had received more than
twice from breast milk bank. Proportion of recipient’s mothers who had complications during their delivery and
proportion of children who were treated in NICU were significantly higher among the recipients (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Awareness on breast milk bank services is required especially among the mothers of premature
babies, low birthweight neonates, and newborn receiving treatment in NICU.