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A Descriptive Study of the Attitude and Experiences of Donor Mothers in a Human Milk Bank

BACKGROUND Human milk donation depends on biological factors that are associated with milk production and social factors including donor’s age, literacy, culture and economic status. Understanding donors’ experiences and their attitudes towards donation is important as it will help improve milk donation and motivate potential donors. The aim of this study was to describe the attitude and experiences of the donor mothers in the Human Milk Bank (HMB). This was a descriptive study conducted in the Human Milk Bank (HMB) attached to this hospital with a time bound sample of 50 mothers who have donated their milk at least once. A questionnaire with 14 questions based on the concepts of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) including the 5 characteristics of attitude, subjective norms, behaviour control, behaviour intentions, and behaviours was framed and administered. The study was conducted in April and May 2020. %) Two thirds of the donors were not aware about the contra-indications for donating milk to HMBs. Health care workers (74 %) were the major motivators and three fourths of the spouses were supporters of milk donation. Majority of the mothers (88 %) did not desire any monetary renumeration for milk donation and about two thirds were willing to continue donation after going home if a collection facility is available nearby. About 90 % of the donors did not feel inadequacy of milk for their baby or have experienced any pain or discomfort during the milk donation. Educating the donors about the contra-indications to milk donation and the safety protocols followed in the HMBs, educating the family members about milk donation and establishment of collection centers in the communities will bridge the demand supply gap in Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) and ultimately reduce the neonatal mortality and morbidity.