Assessing the awareness of mothers of NICU hospitalized neonates in Mashhad educational hospitals about the conditions of breast milk preservation

According to the importance of breastfeeding and lack of nutrition with breast milk for some infants due to different causes، this study was performed with aim to assess the awareness of breastfeeding mothers who their infants were hospitalized in NICU about the condition of milk storage and preservation and the factors affecting their knowledge. This descriptive study was performed in NICU of Pediatric Doctor Sheikh and Ghaem hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2014. All mothers who their infants were admitted in NICU of above hospitals completed a questionnaire including demographic information and the questions about assessing the awareness about conditions of breast milk storage during a month. The correct answers to less than 50% of questions was considered as poor awareness، between 50 to 75% intermediate and more than 75% was good. Analysis of data was performed using SPSS statistical software (version 20) and Chi-square test. Among 42 participants، 1 (2. 4%) of mothers had high awareness، 18 (42. 9%) moderate and 23 (54. 8%) had low awareness about the conditions of breast milk storage. 2 cases (4. 8%) of the mothers had primary education that all of them had poor awareness. 23 (54. 8%) had high school that among them، 21 (52. 2%) had poor awareness and 20 (47. 8%) moderate awareness. 12 (28. 6%) had diploma that among them، 24 (58. 3%) had poor awareness and 17 (41. 7%) moderate awareness. 5 (11. 9%) of the mothers had a college education، of which 17 (40%) had poor، 14 (40%) moderate and 8 (20%) had good awareness. 24 (57%) of mothers were trained in admission hospital. According to the low level of awareness of most mothers about the conditions of breast milk storage، When the baby for various reasons، surgery or medicine is not able to use breast milk، effective training especially about conditions of breast milk storage by health care personnel is recommended.