The World Health Organization recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives.
However, infants without mothers or who cannot breastfeed need the services of Human Milk Banks (donor human breast milk).
In a study published in the Journal of Science and Technology, KNUST researchers sought to determine women’s willingness to donate and/or utilize donor human breast milk to feed their infants and the associated factors in the Korle-Klottey Municipality of Accra, Ghana.
The study involving 384 pregnant women found that 43.2% of the participants were aware of human milk banking services. Meanwhile, 64.6% showed good knowledge on aspects of human milk banking.
Also, 55.5% and 33.6% indicated a willingness to donate and utilize services of human milk banks, respectively.
“1 in 3 were willing to utilize services of human milk banks and 1 in 2 were willing to donate to such facilities,” lead scientist, Dr. Paul Okyere of the School of Public Health said.
“Our study showed that there is a likelihood that the concept of human milk banking (both donation and consumption) will be successful in Ghana if there is appropriate education and awareness-building about it,” the report added.
