Chinese postpartum mothers’ perspectives about the usage of donor milk and human milk banks: A qualitative study

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

Midwifery Pub Date : 2025-04-05 DOI:10.1016/j.midw.2025.104408

Yan-Qiong Ouyang , Shi-Yun Wang , Yi-Yan Huang , Na Zhang , Xin Wang , Jun-Yan Li , Shu-Wen Yue , Sharon R. Redding

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Abstract

Introduction

Human milk banks (HMBs) were established to provide safe human milk for infants in need. However, the number and volume of donors are insufficient in China. This study aimed to explore Chinese postpartum mothers perspectives on the use of donor milk and the implementation of HMBs.

Method

A descriptive phenomenology design with semi-structured interviews was used to collect data involving 18 postpartum mothers from January to June 2021.

Results

The study revealed that participants had limited knowledge of donor milk and human milk banks, faced multiple barriers to accessing donor milk, and exhibited diverse motivations for considering its use. Key barriers included misconceptions about the value of donor milk for premature infants, concerns over quality and safety, psychological hesitations, and limited access to human milk banks. However, some participants saw donor milk as a way to support breastfeeding beliefs and alleviate the burdens associated with breastfeeding.

Discussion

This study explored challenges in HMBs and donor milk use, emphasizing the necessity for targeted education.

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来源期刊

Midwifery 医学-护理

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

7.40%

发文量

221

审稿时长

13.4 weeks

期刊介绍： Midwifery publishes the latest peer reviewed international research to inform the safety, quality, outcomes and experiences of pregnancy, birth and maternity care for childbearing women, their babies and families. The journal’s publications support midwives and maternity care providers to explore and develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes informed by best available evidence. Midwifery provides an international, interdisciplinary forum for the publication, dissemination and discussion of advances in evidence, controversies and current research, and promotes continuing education through publication of systematic and other scholarly reviews and updates. Midwifery articles cover the cultural, clinical, psycho-social, sociological, epidemiological, education, managerial, workforce, organizational and technological areas of practice in preconception, maternal and infant care. The journal welcomes the highest quality scholarly research that employs rigorous methodology. Midwifery is a leading international journal in midwifery and maternal health with a current impact factor of 1.861 (© Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports 2016) and employs a double-blind peer review process.