Practice and barriers of breast milk expression among health care mothers of infants less than 6 months at CHUK, Rwanda. a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended in the first six months of life. Breast milk expression is important in promoting breastfeeding among working mothers and it is an alternative strategy for working mothers to exclusively feed their infants with breast milk, whenever direct breastfeeding is not possible.

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the practice of breast milk expression and storage, among healthcare breastfeeding mothers of infants of less than 6 months of age, in Rwanda, as an alternative method to keep their babies on breast milk.

Methods: This was a qualitative study using thematic analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen health care breastfeeding mothers of infants with the age less than six months of age, working in one tertiary level hospital, in Rwanda.

Results: Thirteen mothers were interviewed from one health facility. All the thirteen mothers were health care providers, three of them were working in the pediatric department and ten out of thirteen mothers were working in the maternity department. Four themes were identified: experience about breast milk expression, feasibility and timing of breast milk expression, storage of expressed breast milk, and challenges while expressing breast milk. All the participants had some information about breastmilk expression. The majority of participating mothers had a positive attitude toward breastmilk expression and storage. The overall practice of breast milk expression in health care breastfeeding mothers was not satisfying with the preference of expressing while at home. The reported challenges included insufficient time for expressing, workload, and insufficient facilities at the workplace.

Conclusion: This study showed knowledge gaps in the storage of expressed breast milk. Interventions and supports are recommended to improve breast milk expression and storage at workplace.