The Human Milk Donation Experience: Motives, Influencing Factors, and Regular Donation

Thomaz, Ana Claire Pimenteira; Loureiro, Luiz Victor Maia; Oliveira, Tathiane da Silva; Montenegro, Norma Caroline de Mendonça Furtado; Júnior, Eglailson Dantas Almeida; Soriano, Cláudio Fernando Rodrigues; Cavalcante, Jairo Calado

doi:10.1177/0890334407310580

Cited by 69 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Our findings are consistent with the motivations for other bodily gifting such as the desire to help others, personal values and beliefs, and a personal connection to the cause. Additionally, we find that the motivations for milk donation comprise having an excess amount of milk and a strong belief in the importance of human milk for babies, as well as a desire to save babies and help other mothers in need, consistent with previous studies (Doshmangir, Naghshi, and Khabiri, ; Pimenteira Thomaz et al., ). However, we found a further complexity in the milk donor identity, which encompasses several components, all of which motivate the act of giving human milk and set it apart from other bodily gifting.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…In this article, we wish to qualitatively explore milk donation from a social science lens, namely, from the literature of philanthropic giving. Surprisingly, although milk banking has existed for more than 100 years (Doshmangir, Naghshi, and Khabiri, 2019) and that there are more than 500 nonprofit milk banks around the world (Williams et al, 2016), the subject of milk donations has received very little attention in the literature on philanthropy (Pimenteira Thomaz et al, 2008). The field of nonprofit and philanthropic studies has focused on the motivations for giving; however, it has done so with limited attention to organ and body fluid donations, with the exception of blood donations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Ain't No Hood Like Motherhood”: The Complexity of Human Milk Donor Identity

Oreg

Appe

2020

Social Science Quarterly

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Objective This article draws on the literature of bodily gifting, the motivations for milk donation, and donor identity to explore human milk donation in the context of nonprofit milk banks. We ask: What are the characteristics of the milk donor identity? Methods We qualitatively analyze written testimonials and images produced by human milk donors during the time of their milk donation. Results We found that milk donors comprised complex identities: the identity of a mother, of a woman, sometimes a recipient, and often including the donor's professional identity. Conclusion Given the increasing demand for human milk donations, studying the unique aspects of this donation is important. The complexity of milk donor identity is captured in the fluidity of human milk donation itself, donors and recipients with this bodily gifting include the babies, mothers, and even entire families.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“Ain't No Hood Like Motherhood”: The Complexity of Human Milk Donor Identity

Oreg

Appe

2020

Social Science Quarterly

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“…Further, addressing communities' concerns, beliefs, and misperceptions regarding DHM and HMBs through provision of sufficient information and raising awareness, has been reported as a strategy for strengthening communities' confidence and acceptance of breast milk donation (Coutsoudis et al, ; Ekşioğlu et al, ; Gürol, Ozkan, et al, 2014). It is also documented that health professionals play an important role in motivating mothers to become donors and use DHM (Pimenteira Thomaz et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions on donated human milk and human milk banking in Nairobi, Kenya

Kimani-Murage

Wanjohi

Kamande

et al. 2019

Maternal & Child Nutrition

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Donor human milk (DHM) is recomended as the best alternative when use of mothers' own milk is not a feasible option. Kenya has not yet established human milk banks (HMBs) for provision of safe DHM, which is free from any physical, chemical, microbiological contaminants or pathogens. This study aimed to establish the perceptions on donating and using DHM, and establishing HMBs in Kenya. Qualitative data were collected through 17 focus group discussions, 29 key informant interviews, and 25 in‐depth interviews, with women of childbearing age, community members, health workers, and policy makers. Quantitative interviews were conducted with 868 mothers of children younger than 3 years. Descriptive analysis of quantitative data was performed in STATA software, whereas qualitative interviews were coded using NVIVO and analysed thematically. Majority of them had a positive attitude towards donating breast milk to a HMB (80%) and feeding children on DHM (87%). At a personal level, participants were more willing to donate their milk to HMBs (78%) than using DHM for their own children (59%). The main concerns on donation and use of DHM were personal dislikes, fear of transmission of diseases including HIV, and hygiene concerns. Ensuring safety of DHM was considered important in enhancing acceptability of DHM and successful establishment of the HMBs. When establishing HMBs, Kenya must take into consideration communication strategies to address the main concerns raised regarding the quality and safety of the DHM. The findings will contribute to the development of HMB guidelines in Kenya and other African contexts.

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“…Although there is a substantial body of research on breast milk donation and banking, the bulk of this work has focused on the safety and scientific aspects of donor milk [6], milk banking policy [7], and the motivations and experiences of donors [8]. There has been only minimal recent research addressing the attitudes and experiences of the women and families whose infants receive this milk, with one paper focusing on breast milk donation in a Muslim context [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptability of donated breast milk in a resource limited South African setting

2011

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BackgroundThe importance of breast milk for infants' growth, development and overall health is widely recognized. In situations where women are not able to provide their infants with sufficient amounts of their own breast milk, donor breast milk is the next preferred option. Although there is considerable research on the safety and scientific aspects of donor milk, and the motivations and experiences of donors, there is limited research addressing the attitudes and experiences of the women and families whose infants receive this milk. This study therefore examined attitudes towards donated breast milk among mothers, families and healthcare providers of potential recipient infants.MethodsThe study was conducted at a public hospital and nearby clinic in Durban, South Africa. The qualitative data was derived from eight focus group discussions which included four groups with mothers; one with male partners; and one with grandmothers, investigating attitudes towards receiving donated breast milk for infants. There was also one group each with nurses and doctors about their attitudes towards donated breast milk and its use in the hospital. The focus groups were conducted in September and October 2009 and each group had between four and eleven participants, leading to a total of 48 participants.ResultsAlthough breast milk was seen as important to child health there were concerns about undermining of breast milk because of concerns about HIV and marketing and promotion of formula milks. In addition there were concerns about the safety of donor breast milk and discomfort about using another mother's milk. Participants believed that education on the importance of breast milk and transparency on the processes involved in sourcing and preparing donor milk would improve the acceptability.ConclusionsThis study has shown that there are obstacles to the acceptability of donor milk, mainly stemming from lack of awareness/familiarity with the processes around donor breast milk and that these could be readily addressed through education. Even the more psychological concerns would also likely be reduced over time as these educational efforts progress. With government and health care worker endorsement and commitment, breast milk donation could have a promising role in improving child health.

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The Human Milk Donation Experience: Motives, Influencing Factors, and Regular Donation

Cited by 69 publications

References 17 publications

“Ain't No Hood Like Motherhood”: The Complexity of Human Milk Donor Identity

“Ain't No Hood Like Motherhood”: The Complexity of Human Milk Donor Identity

Perceptions on donated human milk and human milk banking in Nairobi, Kenya

Acceptability of donated breast milk in a resource limited South African setting

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