Assessment of Hospital Rooming-in Practice in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Center Study

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends rooming-in to reduce infant mortality rates. Little research has been done to assess practices such as rooming-in and its relation to breastfeeding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of rooming-in during hospital stay among mothers with infants six months old and below, in addition to other associated factors in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This study utilized a sub-sample extracted from a dataset based on a convenience sample of mothers who were recruited from governmental maternal and child health centers as well as from the community. The purpose of the original research was to evaluate infant and young children’s feeding practices. A pre-tested questionnaire was used during interviews with mothers once ethical clearance was in place. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to describe the results. The original sample included 1822 participants, of which 804 infants met the inclusion criteria. The mean age for mothers and infants was 30.3 years and 3.5 months, respectively. The rate of rooming-in during hospital stay was 97.5%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated factors associated with not rooming-in were low maternal age (Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.30), low gestational age (GA) (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.52, 2.36), abnormal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (AOR = 3.77, 95 % CI: 1.22, 11.76), and delayed initiation of breastfeeding (AOR = 4.47, 95 % CI: 1.08, 18.48). In the context of the high rate of rooming-in revealed in this study, there should be a focus on those groups who do not room-in (i.e., younger women and those with babies of a younger gestational age). Rooming-in practice provides self-confidence in taking care of a baby, knowledge about breastfeeding, and stimulates early-phase lactation.

Determinants of Exclusive Breastfeeding and Mixed Feeding Among Mothers of Infants in Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

“…Interestingly, our study did not show a significant association between maternal health problems, method of delivery, and maternal BMI with EBF, although it was previously found to be among the determinants of EBF in the Gulf countries ( 22 , 23 , 41 ). Regarding the mode of delivery, although it showed no significant association with EBF, more than half of the women who delivered via cesarean section reported mixed feeding, which is similar to previous studies because of operation pain and discomfort ( 22 , 41 , 60 ).…”

“…As for the UAE, mixed feeding, complimentary food, and fluid additions have been introduced in the first month of life in the UAE ( 21 ). Several factors negatively affect breastfeeding practices in different Gulf countries, such as maternal age, level of education, mothers' perception of insufficient milk production, problems associated with the breast such as nipple problems, mode of delivery (cesarean section), and hospital practices such as non-rooming-in ( 22 , 23 ). In these studies, a high educational level was more strongly associated with lower BF initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates.…”

Key Challenges and Future Directions When Running Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Research Protocols with Newborns: A Music and Language EEG Feasibility Study

“…According to the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund, rooming-in is a “hospital practice where postnatal mothers and normal infants stay together in the same room for 24 h a day from the time they arrive in their room after delivery” [ 40 ]. This practice, which is greatly used in the UAE settings, helped us a little bit more to carry out our measurements, as mothers quickly learned their babies’ needs, how to care for, soothe, and comfort their newborns—i.e., rooming-in practice seems to promote early breastfeeding and encourage the maternal-infant bonding [ 41 ]. Also, in terms of the house visits mentioned before, we were ready to comply with the participants’ wishes, although we didn’t need to as no one asked for it.…”