This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Pimenteira Thomaz, A. C. Articles by Calado Cavalcante, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pimenteira Thomaz, A. C. Articles by Calado Cavalcante, J. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

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

Department of Obstetric-Gynecology and Pediatrics at the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil, ana.claire{at}uol.com.br

Luiz Victor Maia Loureiro

Medicine at the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil

Tathiane da Silva Oliveira

Medicine at the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil

Norma Caroline de Mendonça Furtado Montenegro

Medicine in the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil

Eglailson Dantas Almeida Júnior

Medicine in the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil

Cláudio Fernando Rodrigues Soriano, PhD

Department of Obstetric-Gynecology and Pediatrics at the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil

Jairo Calado Cavalcante, MPH

Department of Public Health Medicine at the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil

The aim of this investigation was to identify factors that influenced or motivated women (N = 737) to donate human milk to human milk banks in Alagoas, Brazil. The most common characteristics of a regular donor were having 4 to 7 pregnancies (relative risk [RR] = 1.9285; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0388-3.5800) and having obtained a higher education level (RR = 2,0625; 95% CI = 1.0097-4.2130). The most commonly reported reasons for donating were "encouragement of a health professional" (61.3%), followed by "the needs of the babies the banks serve" (25.3%). Most of the donors (49.9%) were introduced during their stay in the hospital to the human milk bank to which they donated, and 25.8% chose the bank recommended by a health professional. Health professionals play an indispensable role in motivating mothers to become human milk donors. J Hum Lact. 24(1):69-76.

Key Words: human milk • human milk bank • human milk donor • breastfeeding • decision-making • human behavior • donor

Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 24, No. 1, 69-76 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0890334407310580


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?