Feeding practice outcome for preterm infants in two neonatology units in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

We carried out a follow-up study to investigate variation in short-term outcome for preterm infants in 2 hospitals in Buraidah. We compared gestational age, birth weight, head circumference at birth and length of stay. Outcome measures were weight gain/day, feeding pattern on discharge and feeding pattern 1 month after discharge. Mean weight gain was significantly higher in hospital A, 9.6 (± 19.7) g/day compared to -1.2 (± 29.5) g/day in hospital B (P = 0.049). The proportion of infants exclusively breastfed 1 month after discharge was 37.5% in hospital B compared to 13.2% in hospital A (P = 0.0224). There are clear hospital level differences in short-term outcome in the same region, emphasizing the need for continuous follow-up and evaluation of differences in a perinatal audit.