Abstract：
We aimed to gain insights into current nutritional management practices of late preterm infants (34-36 weeks gestational age) in Nigeria.
Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 19 healthcare professionals (neonatologists, paediatricians, general practitioners and nurses) involved in the care and nutritional management of late preterm infants in Lagos and Ogun states, Nigeria. Data were collected using interviews, either individually or in small focus groups, between 15 August and 6 September 2022. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was carried out to interpret the data.
Ten distinct themes emerged across the research questions and objectives. For growth monitoring, 11, 6, 1 and 1 of our participants preferred to use the 2006 WHO growth standards, Fenton preterm growth chart, Ballard score and Intergrowth-21, respectively. Regarding the growth velocity of late preterm infants, most healthcare professionals aimed for 15 g/kg BW/day or more during hospitalisation. Breastmilk was unanimously the primary feeding option for late preterm infants. Most healthcare professionals preferred to use international guidelines over local guidelines.
Our study shows that there is a wide divergence in the nutritional guidelines used in managing late preterm infants in Nigeria. Regarding growth monitoring, healthcare professionals tended to aim for a growth velocity higher than necessary for late preterm infants, which may be disadvantageous for their long-term health.
Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 19 healthcare professionals (neonatologists, paediatricians, general practitioners and nurses) involved in the care and nutritional management of late preterm infants in Lagos and Ogun states, Nigeria. Data were collected using interviews, either individually or in small focus groups, between 15 August and 6 September 2022. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was carried out to interpret the data.
Ten distinct themes emerged across the research questions and objectives. For growth monitoring, 11, 6, 1 and 1 of our participants preferred to use the 2006 WHO growth standards, Fenton preterm growth chart, Ballard score and Intergrowth-21, respectively. Regarding the growth velocity of late preterm infants, most healthcare professionals aimed for 15 g/kg BW/day or more during hospitalisation. Breastmilk was unanimously the primary feeding option for late preterm infants. Most healthcare professionals preferred to use international guidelines over local guidelines.
Our study shows that there is a wide divergence in the nutritional guidelines used in managing late preterm infants in Nigeria. Regarding growth monitoring, healthcare professionals tended to aim for a growth velocity higher than necessary for late preterm infants, which may be disadvantageous for their long-term health.
摘要：
目的：我们旨在深入了解尼日利亚晚期早产儿（胎龄34-36周）的营养管理实践。
方法：目的抽样被用来招募19名医疗保健专业人员(新生儿学家，儿科医生,全科医生和护士）参与拉各斯和奥贡州晚期早产儿的护理和营养管理，尼日利亚。数据是通过访谈收集的，无论是个人还是小焦点小组，2022年8月15日至9月6日。对访谈笔录进行了主题分析，以解释数据。
结果：在研究问题和目标中出现了十个不同的主题。对于生长监测，11、6、1和1我们的参与者更喜欢使用2006年世卫组织生长标准，芬顿早产增长图,Ballard得分和Intergrowth-21。关于晚期早产儿的生长速度，大多数医疗保健专业人员在住院期间的目标是每天15克/千克体重或更多。母乳一致是晚期早产儿的主要喂养选择。大多数医疗保健专业人员更喜欢使用国际准则而不是本地准则。
结论：我们的研究表明，尼日利亚用于管理晚期早产儿的营养指南存在很大差异。关于增长监测，医疗保健专业人员倾向于追求高于晚期早产儿所需的生长速度，这可能对他们的长期健康不利。
方法：目的抽样被用来招募19名医疗保健专业人员(新生儿学家，儿科医生,全科医生和护士）参与拉各斯和奥贡州晚期早产儿的护理和营养管理，尼日利亚。数据是通过访谈收集的，无论是个人还是小焦点小组，2022年8月15日至9月6日。对访谈笔录进行了主题分析，以解释数据。
结果：在研究问题和目标中出现了十个不同的主题。对于生长监测，11、6、1和1我们的参与者更喜欢使用2006年世卫组织生长标准，芬顿早产增长图,Ballard得分和Intergrowth-21。关于晚期早产儿的生长速度，大多数医疗保健专业人员在住院期间的目标是每天15克/千克体重或更多。母乳一致是晚期早产儿的主要喂养选择。大多数医疗保健专业人员更喜欢使用国际准则而不是本地准则。
结论：我们的研究表明，尼日利亚用于管理晚期早产儿的营养指南存在很大差异。关于增长监测，医疗保健专业人员倾向于追求高于晚期早产儿所需的生长速度，这可能对他们的长期健康不利。
