645 - Social Drivers of Parental Bedside Presence and Mother's Own Milk Provision for Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Publication Number: 4631.645

Grace Hoover, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States; Kevin M. Cook, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States; Mariana Aokalani, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Sudeepta Basu, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Nickie Andescavage, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Catherine Limperopoulos, Children's National Health System, Washington DC, DC, United States; Katherine Ottolini, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States

Background: Disparities in the provision of mother’s own milk (MOM) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) illustrate systemic barriers that perpetuate health inequities in hospital systems. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) places individuals on a scale from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating increased social vulnerability. Understanding barriers associated with gaps in parental presence and MOM provision allows for targeted efforts toward equitable milk access.

Objective: To identify potential drivers of disparities in parental presence and MOM provision for preterm infants in the NICU using the SVI.

Design/Methods: Preterm mother-infant dyads (born
Results: In 189 mother-infant dyads, SVI was significantly lower in infants receiving AnyMOM and DCMOM, with the most significant differences in AnyMOM provision based on household characteristics (Table 1). Similarly, parental presence was positively associated with receiving AnyMOM or DCMOM (Table 2). SVI inversely correlated with parental presence, with the strongest correlation based on socioeconomic status and household characteristics (Table 3).

Conclusion(s): Families providing MOM lived in less vulnerable contexts, particularly regarding household characteristics, and exhibited greater presence in the NICU. Additional research is needed to determine which initiatives may be most successful in promoting equitable milk access and overcoming barriers to MOM provision in socially vulnerable contexts.

Analysis of SVI and MOM Provision
SVI_Table1.pdf

Analysis of Parental Presence and MOM provision
SVI_Table2.pdf

Correlation of SVI and Parental Presence
SVI_Table3.pdf