Effect of Skill Orientation on Practice of Breast Feeding Technique among Mothers of Preterm Babies

A woman's confidence in her ability to breastfeed is crucial to her success in breast feeding preterm babies. Breastfeeding is instinctive on the part of the baby but is a learned skill for the mother. Breastfeeding is extraimportant if the baby is born preterm. Giving birth to a preterm baby can be a frightening and traumatic time for parent. Breast milk has important health benefits for premature babies as it prevent damage to baby's immature digestive system, provide immunological, nutritional and cognitive benefits and allow for optimum growth and development. Aims and objectives: The present study aimed at assessing the effect of skill orientation on practice of breast feeding technique among mothers of preterm babies. Methodology: Pre experimental one group pre test post test design was used. Thirty samples were selected using nonprobability purposive sampling technique from a tertiary hospital, Thrissur. Pre test was done using structured observation checklist on day 1, followed by demonstration of breast feeding technique to each mother of preterm babies for 2 days as 2 times per day. On 3rd day, post test was done using same observation checklist. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics using Statistical Package for Social Services 17 (SPSS 17). Results: Results showed that majority of mothers (80%) of preterm babies were in the age group of 21 to 30 years. Most of the mothers of preterm babies (63.30%) had caesarean type of delivery. 50% of mothers of preterm babies belonged to joint family and 90% of them had family support from both husband's side and mother's side. 76.70% of mothers of preterm babies had excellent level of practice of breast feeding technique after the skill orientation. There was significant association between pre test level of practice of breast feeding technique with sociodemographic and clinical data variables like parity (p=0.03), family support (p=0.003) and baby's body weight (p=0.006). This reveals that mothers who are multiparous and who have more family support have significantly higher level of practice of breast feeding. The level of breast feeding technique significantly improved with the increase in body weight of preterm babies. Study concluded that skill orientation on practice of breast feeding technique was effective among mothers of preterm babies in NICU.