Effect of Breast Feeding Versus Formula Feeding On Surgical Wound Healing Among Infants during the First Six Months of Age

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 B.SC.Nursing,

2 Professor of Pediatric Nursing , Faculty of Nursing , Zagazig University

3 Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing , faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University.

Abstract

Abstract
Background:
Breast milk has antimicrobial and healing properties that actually can help the
wound healing .Surgical infants are at much higher risk for malnutrition as a result of increased metabolic demands from surgery, nutrient losses, and sepsis. Aim of the study was to assess the effect of breast feeding versus formula feeding on surgical wound healing in infants during the first six months of age .Subjects and Methods : Research design :Descriptive comparative. Setting: The Pediatric surgical Unit at the surgery hospital and out Pediatric surgical clinic at Zagazig University hospital. Subjects: sample comprised 90 infants (45study and 45 controls) .Tools of data collection: Two tools were used: questionnaire interview sheet and Observation sheet for the infant's wounds. Results: I t revealed that :In breastfed infants boys were 73.3 ,while 26.7 were girls .Also in the formula fed infants boys were 75.6 ,while 24.4 were girls .As general statistically significant difference was found between physical assessment and type of feeding as there was 46.7 of infants had rapid respiration in artificial feeding while 11.1in breast feeding, also occurrence of wound healing during the first ,second and third visits was 46.7 ,73.3 ,93.3 in breast fed infants while 31.1 ,20.0 ,57.8 in formula feeding .Conclusion: Breast fed infants had rapid wound healing ,less wound infection and receiving more number of daily feeds .Recommendation: Health educational classroom to encourage mothers during admission period at hospital to maintain exclusive breast feeding until six months of infant age.

Keywords