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Cluster feeding in newborns and infants : mothers and health care workers' knowledge and experiences
Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2022
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| _version_ | 1867613753815597056 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Sebitosi-Van Jaarsveld, Sandra |
| author2 | Kruger, Mariana |
| author_browse | Kruger, Mariana Sebitosi-Van Jaarsveld, Sandra |
| author_facet | Kruger, Mariana Sebitosi-Van Jaarsveld, Sandra |
| author_sort | Sebitosi-Van Jaarsveld, Sandra |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/125067 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:09.576Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/125067 Cluster feeding in newborns and infants : mothers and health care workers' knowledge and experiences Sebitosi-Van Jaarsveld, Sandra Kruger, Mariana LLoyd, Lizel Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Paediatrics and Child Health. Breastfeeding -- South Africa Cluster feeding -- South Africa Newborn infants -- Care -- South Africa Motherhood Maternal health services Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Cluster feeding is a phenomenon noted in normal human infants during the first year of life. The infant’s feeds are spaced closer together than is usual for certain times of the day, over several days, and during multiple specific age periods. It is not well noted in scientific literature though it is discussed widely in anecdotal reports worldwide. It is not mentioned in any guidelines to support breastfeeding in South Africa and data is also lacking in formula feeding infants. Objectives: This was a prospective descriptive study with two main objectives:1) to identify the periods, specific times and duration of cluster feeding in both breastfed and formula fed infants and 2) to examine the extent of knowledge regarding cluster feeding in health care workers and advice given by them to mothers. Methods: Two questionnaires were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data: one targeted to mothers and the second targeted to health care workers based in Cape Town, South Africa. 40 mothers with healthy normal babies born at term, from 2 weeks up to 52 weeks of age, and 66 health care workers in current paediatric practice were recruited from both the public and private sector. The study focused on the first 12 weeks of life. Mothers reported normal and unusual feeding behaviours in their infants. Health care workers reported on their knowledge regarding cluster feeding by answering open and close-ended questions on advice they would give to a mother with a child during cluster feeding. Results: Most mothers (85%, n=35/40) reported cluster feeding in their infants. Infants were shown to cluster feed at various periods in the first 12 weeks of life. The most recorded periods were at five to six weeks of age (42%, n=17/40) and at 11 to 12 weeks of age (42%, n=17/40). The time for cluster feeding noted by most mothers (45%, n=19/40) was between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the evening. More than half of the mothers (58%, n=23/40) experienced cluster feeding in their babies for a few hours every day for a few consecutive days. Over half of the health care workers in the study (53%, n=35/66) had never heard of the term ‘cluster feeding’. A minority (16%, n=11/66) could accurately describe it according to the definitions in literature. Health care workers were more familiar with the term ‘growth spurts’. Most (83%, n=55/66) recognised increased feeding as a sign of cluster feeding but did not easily recognise other signs of cluster feeding or growth spurts. Advice given to mothers was diverse. Conclusion: To the authors knowledge, this was the first study of its kind to date in South Africa. The periods and times that cluster feeding were found to occur in this study concurred with the current literature. Health care workers were not familiar with the term “cluster feeding” and gave differing advice. Training about cluster feeding should be given to health care workers through formal courses and standardized in order to inform mothers effectively. Information about cluster feeding should be incorporated into the South African breastfeeding guidelines. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2022-03-05T11:43:29Z 2022-04-29T12:52:33Z 2022-09-05T03:00:07Z 2022-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/125067 en_ZA Stellenbosch University v, 64 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Breastfeeding -- South Africa Cluster feeding -- South Africa Newborn infants -- Care -- South Africa Motherhood Maternal health services Sebitosi-Van Jaarsveld, Sandra Cluster feeding in newborns and infants : mothers and health care workers' knowledge and experiences |
| title | Cluster feeding in newborns and infants : mothers and health care workers' knowledge and experiences |
| title_full | Cluster feeding in newborns and infants : mothers and health care workers' knowledge and experiences |
| title_fullStr | Cluster feeding in newborns and infants : mothers and health care workers' knowledge and experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cluster feeding in newborns and infants : mothers and health care workers' knowledge and experiences |
| title_short | Cluster feeding in newborns and infants : mothers and health care workers' knowledge and experiences |
| title_sort | cluster feeding in newborns and infants mothers and health care workers knowledge and experiences |
| topic | Breastfeeding -- South Africa Cluster feeding -- South Africa Newborn infants -- Care -- South Africa Motherhood Maternal health services |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/125067 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sebitosivanjaarsveldsandra clusterfeedinginnewbornsandinfantsmothersandhealthcareworkersknowledgeandexperiences |