Study of hospital practices of breastfeeding among premature infants in 10 African countries

Breastfeeding is crucial for premature infants, but inappropriate hospital practices often hinder its prevalence in Africa. This multicenter observational study, conducted across ten African countries from 2020 to 2021, aimed to scrutinize breastfeeding practices in hospitals caring for premature infants.We studied 2085 premature infants from 73 hospitals. 97% of hospitals provided breast milk, with 56.9% supplementing, mainly using specialized premature infant formulas. Significant disparities existed, notably in Mauritius, Morocco, and Nigeria, where breastfeeding proportions were 60%, 75%, and 66.7% respectively (P = 0.018). Fortification of breast milk (45.9%) was common, with an average infant weight of 2.51 ± 0.61 kg. Most hospitals (89.2%) employed premature infant formulas. Discharge data showed a slight increase in exclusive breastfeeding prevalence.While breastfeeding is prevalent in African hospitals, enhancements are imperative. Effective strategies include intensified supervision of breast milk supplementation practices and extended periods of exclusive breastfeeding. These improvements are crucial for the optimal care of premature infants.