Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania
Infants need to receive care in environments that limit their exposure to pathogens. Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) environments and suboptimal infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings contribute to the burden of healthcare-associated infections, which are...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | PLOS Global Public Health |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10249877/?tool=EBI |
| _version_ | 1797694527936397312 |
|---|---|
| author | Bethany A. Caruso Uriel Paniagua Irving Hoffman Karim Manji Friday Saidi Christopher R. Sudfeld Sunil S. Vernekar Mohamed Bakari Christopher P. Duggan George C. Kibogoyo Rodrick Kisenge Sarah Somji Eddah Kafansiyanji Tisungane Mvalo Naomie Nyirenda Melda Phiri Roopa Bellad Sangappa Dhaded Chaya K. A. Bhavana Koppad Shilpa Nabapure Saumya Nanda Bipsa Singh S. Yogeshkumar Katelyn Fleming Krysten North Danielle E. Tuller Katherine E. A. Semrau Linda Vesel Melissa F. Young |
| author_facet | Bethany A. Caruso Uriel Paniagua Irving Hoffman Karim Manji Friday Saidi Christopher R. Sudfeld Sunil S. Vernekar Mohamed Bakari Christopher P. Duggan George C. Kibogoyo Rodrick Kisenge Sarah Somji Eddah Kafansiyanji Tisungane Mvalo Naomie Nyirenda Melda Phiri Roopa Bellad Sangappa Dhaded Chaya K. A. Bhavana Koppad Shilpa Nabapure Saumya Nanda Bipsa Singh S. Yogeshkumar Katelyn Fleming Krysten North Danielle E. Tuller Katherine E. A. Semrau Linda Vesel Melissa F. Young |
| author_sort | Bethany A. Caruso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infants need to receive care in environments that limit their exposure to pathogens. Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) environments and suboptimal infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings contribute to the burden of healthcare-associated infections, which are particularly high in low-income settings. Specific research is needed to understand infant feeding preparation in healthcare settings, a task involving multiple behaviors that can introduce pathogens and negatively impact health. To understand feeding preparation practices and potential risks, and to inform strategies for improvement, we assessed facility WASH environments and observed infant feeding preparation practices across 12 facilities in India, Malawi, and Tanzania serving newborn infants. Research was embedded within the Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration (LIFE) observational cohort study, which documented feeding practices and growth patterns to inform feeding interventions. We assessed WASH-related environments and feeding policies of all 12 facilities involved in the LIFE study. Additionally, we used a guidance-informed tool to carry out 27 feeding preparation observations across 9 facilities, enabling assessment of 270 total behaviors. All facilities had ‘improved’ water and sanitation services. Only 50% had written procedures for preparing expressed breastmilk; 50% had written procedures for cleaning, drying, and storage of infant feeding implements; and 33% had written procedures for preparing infant formula. Among 270 behaviors assessed across the 27 feeding preparation observations, 46 (17.0%) practices were carried out sub-optimally, including preparers not handwashing prior to preparation, and cleaning, drying, and storing of feeding implements in ways that do not effectively prevent contamination. While further research is needed to improve assessment tools and to identify specific microbial risks of the suboptimal behaviors identified, the evidence generated is sufficient to justify investment in developing guidance and programing to strengthen infant feeding preparation practices to ensure optimal newborn health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:59:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8aae8f87840a4df7b09919f96b6cc9f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2767-3375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:59:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLOS Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-8aae8f87840a4df7b09919f96b6cc9f12023-09-03T15:04:43ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752023-01-0136Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and TanzaniaBethany A. CarusoUriel PaniaguaIrving HoffmanKarim ManjiFriday SaidiChristopher R. SudfeldSunil S. VernekarMohamed BakariChristopher P. DugganGeorge C. KibogoyoRodrick KisengeSarah SomjiEddah KafansiyanjiTisungane MvaloNaomie NyirendaMelda PhiriRoopa BelladSangappa DhadedChaya K. A.Bhavana KoppadShilpa NabapureSaumya NandaBipsa SinghS. YogeshkumarKatelyn FlemingKrysten NorthDanielle E. TullerKatherine E. A. SemrauLinda VeselMelissa F. YoungInfants need to receive care in environments that limit their exposure to pathogens. Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) environments and suboptimal infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings contribute to the burden of healthcare-associated infections, which are particularly high in low-income settings. Specific research is needed to understand infant feeding preparation in healthcare settings, a task involving multiple behaviors that can introduce pathogens and negatively impact health. To understand feeding preparation practices and potential risks, and to inform strategies for improvement, we assessed facility WASH environments and observed infant feeding preparation practices across 12 facilities in India, Malawi, and Tanzania serving newborn infants. Research was embedded within the Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration (LIFE) observational cohort study, which documented feeding practices and growth patterns to inform feeding interventions. We assessed WASH-related environments and feeding policies of all 12 facilities involved in the LIFE study. Additionally, we used a guidance-informed tool to carry out 27 feeding preparation observations across 9 facilities, enabling assessment of 270 total behaviors. All facilities had ‘improved’ water and sanitation services. Only 50% had written procedures for preparing expressed breastmilk; 50% had written procedures for cleaning, drying, and storage of infant feeding implements; and 33% had written procedures for preparing infant formula. Among 270 behaviors assessed across the 27 feeding preparation observations, 46 (17.0%) practices were carried out sub-optimally, including preparers not handwashing prior to preparation, and cleaning, drying, and storing of feeding implements in ways that do not effectively prevent contamination. While further research is needed to improve assessment tools and to identify specific microbial risks of the suboptimal behaviors identified, the evidence generated is sufficient to justify investment in developing guidance and programing to strengthen infant feeding preparation practices to ensure optimal newborn health.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10249877/?tool=EBI |
| spellingShingle | Bethany A. Caruso Uriel Paniagua Irving Hoffman Karim Manji Friday Saidi Christopher R. Sudfeld Sunil S. Vernekar Mohamed Bakari Christopher P. Duggan George C. Kibogoyo Rodrick Kisenge Sarah Somji Eddah Kafansiyanji Tisungane Mvalo Naomie Nyirenda Melda Phiri Roopa Bellad Sangappa Dhaded Chaya K. A. Bhavana Koppad Shilpa Nabapure Saumya Nanda Bipsa Singh S. Yogeshkumar Katelyn Fleming Krysten North Danielle E. Tuller Katherine E. A. Semrau Linda Vesel Melissa F. Young Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania PLOS Global Public Health |
| title | Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania |
| title_full | Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania |
| title_short | Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania |
| title_sort | safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in india malawi and tanzania |
| url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10249877/?tool=EBI |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bethanyacaruso safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT urielpaniagua safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT irvinghoffman safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT karimmanji safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT fridaysaidi safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT christopherrsudfeld safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT sunilsvernekar safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT mohamedbakari safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT christopherpduggan safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT georgeckibogoyo safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT rodrickkisenge safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT sarahsomji safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT eddahkafansiyanji safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT tisunganemvalo safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT naomienyirenda safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT meldaphiri safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT roopabellad safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT sangappadhaded safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT chayaka safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT bhavanakoppad safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT shilpanabapure safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT saumyananda safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT bipsasingh safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT syogeshkumar safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT katelynfleming safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT krystennorth safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT danielleetuller safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT katherineeasemrau safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT lindavesel safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania AT melissafyoung safeinfantfeedinginhealthcarefacilitiesassessmentofinfectionpreventionandcontrolconditionsandbehaviorsinindiamalawiandtanzania |