Exploring Barriers and Facilitators for Human Milk Donation and Acceptance Among Donors and Recipients

Background: There is no ideal alternative to mother’s own milk. In circumstances where an alternative is required, donated human milk is the best available option. To promote the establishment of more human milk banks, it is necessary to know the current attitude and awareness of the general population toward human milk donation as well as its acceptance.

Methods: This is a qualitative study including focused group discussions and in-depth interviews.

Results: Major barriers found to the donation of milk were fear of the insufficient amount of milk remaining for her baby, inconvenience due to stitch pain after lower segment caesarean section, not willing for pre-donation laboratory testing, the donation process being time-consuming, misconceptions like fear of disease transmission, and so on. Factors facilitating milk donation were breast engorgement and altruism. The facilitator for the acceptance of donated human milk was the belief that donated human milk was the best available option at that time. Barriers to acceptance of donated milk were fear of transmission of infections, prevalent misconceptions about donated human milk, and a lack of awareness regarding the process of pasteurization.

Conclusion: Barriers to the donation of milk are related to inadequate knowledge, fear, and low awareness regarding human milk banking. Most mothers were encouraged to donate milk due to excess milk. A lack of knowledge about the process of pasteurization appears to be a significant barrier to the acceptance of donated milk. Pasteurized donated milk, being the only available superior option, made donated milk acceptable among the recipient’s relatives.