Purpose
characterizing the feeding development of preterm infants between three and 12 months, those were born in Canoas/RS, checking the breastfeeding type, the timing of introduction of complementary feeding, the deleterious oral habits, the guidance received, the feeding difficulties and the sociodemographic profile.
Methods
this study was evaluated and approved by the ethics committee of ULBRA under no. CEP-2011-480h ULBRA. This is a descriptive, quantitative and transversal study. Interviews with those responsible and evaluation of 32 children born preterm who attended follow-up appointments at a hospital in Canoas took place.
Results
we found that only 37,5% (N=12) of the children received exclusive breastfeeding and the duration period was 31 days. Liquids were offered early; pasty food introduction was adequate time and the offer of solid food was performed early, considering the chronological age of the children. Parents reported that in 53,1% (N=17) of the babies had feeding difficulties. It was a significant association (p=0,004) between food refusal, extreme prematurity and very low birth weight. Furthermore, we observed significant association (p=0,047) between lips’, tongue’ and cheeks’ sagging and extreme prematurity.
Conclusion
exclusive breastfeeding was uncommonly practiced while complementary breastfeeding also showed low prevalence and low rates of duration. Just over half of the population complained of feeding difficulty and a significant association between extreme prematurity, extreme low birth weight and food refusal was found. Furthermore, an association was found between lips’, tongue’ and cheeks’ sagging and extreme prematurity. It is evident the need of further extensive research in this area.
Infant, Premature; Breast Feeding; Supplementary Feeding; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences