Hoang Thi Tran1,2, Tuan Thanh Nguyen3, Debbie Barnett4, Gillian Weaver5, Oanh Thi Xuan Nguyen1, Quang Van Ngo6, Huong Thi Thanh Le1, Le Thi Huynh1,2, Chung Thi Do3, Roger Mathisen3. 1. Neonatal Unit and Human Milk Bank, Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, Da Nang 50506, Vietnam. 2. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Da Nang University, Da Nang 50206, Vietnam. 3. Alive & Thrive Southeast Asia, FHI 360, Hanoi 11022, Vietnam. 4. Milk Bank Scotland, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK. 5. International Milk Banking Specialist and Consultant, Human Milk Foundation, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK. 6. Department of Nutrition, Da Nang Center for Disease Control, Da Nang 50206, Vietnam.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Since 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have recommended the use of pasteurized human milk from a human milk bank (HMB) to feed low birthweight (LBW) and preterm newborns as the 'first alternative' when mothers are unable to provide their own milk. However, they have not issued any guidelines for the safe establishment and operation of an HMB. This gap contributes to the demand for gathering experiences from HMB networks, especially those from lower-middle income countries. To fill this knowledge gap, this study examines the characteristics of donors, donation, pasteurization, and recipients during the first four years of operation in the first HMB in Vietnam. METHODS: Data about the donors, donation, pasteurization, and recipients were extracted from the web-based electronic monitoring system of the HMB from 1 February 2017 to 31 January 2021. RESULTS: In the first four years of operation there were 433 donors who donated 7642 L of milk (66% from the community) with an increased trend in the amount of donated milk, donation duration, and average amount of milk donated by a donor. Approximately 98% of the donated milk was pasteurized, and 82% passed both pre- and post-pasteurization tests. Although the pass rate tended to increase with time, a few dips occurred. Of 16,235 newborns who received pasteurized donor milk, two thirds were in the postnatal wards. The main reason for the prescription of pasteurized donor milk was insufficient mothers' own milk in the first few days after birth. There was a decreased trend in the amount and duration of using pasteurized donor milk in both postnatal wards and the neonatal unit. CONCLUSIONS: The HMB has operated efficiently in the previous four years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, to serve vulnerable newborns. Ongoing evidence-based adjustments helped to improve the operation to recruit suitable donors, to increase the access to and quality of raw donor milk, to improve the pasteurization process, and to meet the need of more newborns.
BACKGROUND: Since 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have recommended the use of pasteurized human milk from a human milk bank (HMB) to feed low birthweight (LBW) and preterm newborns as the 'first alternative' when mothers are unable to provide their own milk. However, they have not issued any guidelines for the safe establishment and operation of an HMB. This gap contributes to the demand for gathering experiences from HMB networks, especially those from lower-middle income countries. To fill this knowledge gap, this study examines the characteristics of donors, donation, pasteurization, and recipients during the first four years of operation in the first HMB in Vietnam. METHODS: Data about the donors, donation, pasteurization, and recipients were extracted from the web-based electronic monitoring system of the HMB from 1 February 2017 to 31 January 2021. RESULTS: In the first four years of operation there were 433 donors who donated 7642 L of milk (66% from the community) with an increased trend in the amount of donated milk, donation duration, and average amount of milk donated by a donor. Approximately 98% of the donated milk was pasteurized, and 82% passed both pre- and post-pasteurization tests. Although the pass rate tended to increase with time, a few dips occurred. Of 16,235 newborns who received pasteurized donor milk, two thirds were in the postnatal wards. The main reason for the prescription of pasteurized donor milk was insufficient mothers' own milk in the first few days after birth. There was a decreased trend in the amount and duration of using pasteurized donor milk in both postnatal wards and the neonatal unit. CONCLUSIONS: The HMB has operated efficiently in the previous four years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, to serve vulnerable newborns. Ongoing evidence-based adjustments helped to improve the operation to recruit suitable donors, to increase the access to and quality of raw donor milk, to improve the pasteurization process, and to meet the need of more newborns.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; breastfeeding; donor milk; early essential newborn care (EENC); human milk bank; newborn; prelacteal feeding
Authors: Jyn Allec R Samaniego; Cherry C Maramag; Mary Christine Castro; Paul Zambrano; Tuan T Nguyen; Janice Datu-Sanguyo; Jennifer Cashin; Roger Mathisen; Amy Weissman Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-01 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Hoang Thi Tran; Tuan T Nguyen; Hoang Thi Nam Giang; Le Thi Huynh; Debbie Barnett; Roger Mathisen; John C S Murray Journal: Nutrients Date: 2021-03-31 Impact factor: 5.717