FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TIME TO ACHIEVEMENT OF FULL ENTERAL FEEDING IN PRETERM INFANTS ADMITTED TO UOGCSH NICU(

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background- Enteral feeding is important part of the management in preterm newborns, we aimed to study factors associated with achievement of full enteral feeds in these infants and whether there is a difference in time to achievement of full enteral feeds between small for gestational age and appropriate gestational age preterm newborns. Objectives- To assess factors affecting time to full enteral feeding achievement among preterm infants admitted to University of Gondar pediatrics department Neonatal intensive care unit from November 2020 to September 2021 Methods- Hospital based prospective cohort study to be conducted from November 2020 to September 2021. Spearman’s correlation, Mann Whitney u test and multiple regression analysis were used. Results- Out of the 125 preterms included in the study 81.6% were discharged, while 15 Conclusion- As gestational age increases time to FEF decreases and earlier initiation of MEF decreases time to FEF. Occurrence of NEC, and neonatal anemia both prolong the time to FEF.