Infants should be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of their lives, according to World Health Organization recommendations.
Donor human breast milk is what Human Milk Banks provide, though, for babies without moms or unable to breastfeed.
Researches from KNUST examined women’s readiness to give and/or use donor human breast milk to nurse their babies, as well as related factors, in the Korle-Klottey Municipality of Accra, Ghana. Their findings were published in the Journal of Science and Technology.
43.2% of the 384 pregnant participants in the study were aware of the existence of human milk banking services. In contrast, 64.6% demonstrated strong understanding of several facets of human milk banking.
Additionally, 33.6% and 55.5% of respondents said they would be happy to use human milk banks’ services and donate, respectively.
Lead researcher Dr. Paul Okyere of the School of Public Health stated that “1 in 3 were willing to utilise services of human milk banks and 1 in 2 were willing to donate to such facilities.”
“Our study indicated that if there is appropriate education and awareness-building about it, there is a likelihood that the concept of human milk banking (both donation and consumption) will succeed in Ghana,” the report continued.
