Otiti Mary Iwaret, Were Florence Achieng, Zaim Sevim, Nabwera Helen, Kariuki Simon, Allen Stephen
Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu P.O. Box 1578 - 40100, Kenya.
Nutrients. 2025 Jan 29;17(3):495. doi: 10.3390/nu17030495.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A contributory factor to childhood undernutrition is poor gut health occurring within the first 6-12 weeks of life despite exclusive breastfeeding. Pro/synbiotic administration may protect gut health. A qualitative study was conducted amongst mothers/carers and healthcare workers (HCWs) to explore their perceptions and the acceptability of pro/synbiotics administration in early life.
This study was nested within a randomised, open, clinical trial of pro/synbiotics with 32 doses administered under supervision to infants between ages 0 and 5 months in western Kenya. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 mothers/carers, 12 Peer Mothers and 7 healthcare workers (HCWs) selected by purposive critical and key informant sampling. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using a thematic coding framework.
The satisfaction with the pro/synbiotic administration was very high amongst all three groups. Commonly perceived benefits included protection from diseases, healthy growth of the infant and improved appetite. The main barriers were working mothers and other commitments making it difficult to stick to scheduled administration visits, adverse judgement and opinions in the community, and a lack of engagement from fathers. Insights were gained into different means of administering pro/synbiotics to young infants. Triangulation of the findings of the mothers/carers with HCWs showed that most identified motivations and challenges were similar.
Pro/synbiotic administration was well accepted by the mothers/carers and HCWs and generally perceived to have health benefits. The administration of pro/synbiotics by the mothers/carers themselves to their infants may be feasible and overcome logistical challenges. Greater efforts to sensitise and engage fathers and communities would likely be critical for a community-based program.
背景/目的：尽管纯母乳喂养，但在出生后的头6 - 12周内出现的肠道健康不佳是儿童营养不良的一个促成因素。给予益生元/合生元可能有助于保护肠道健康。开展了一项针对母亲/照料者和医护人员的定性研究，以探讨他们对在生命早期给予益生元/合生元的看法和接受程度。
本研究嵌套于一项关于益生元/合生元的随机、开放临床试验，在肯尼亚西部对0至5个月大的婴儿进行了32次剂量的监督给药。通过目的抽样法从关键和重要信息提供者中选取了14位母亲/照料者、12位同龄母亲和7位医护人员进行半结构化访谈。访谈内容经转录后使用主题编码框架进行分析。
所有三组对象对益生元/合生元给药的满意度都很高。普遍认为的益处包括预防疾病、婴儿健康成长和食欲改善。主要障碍包括职业母亲和其他事务导致难以按时就诊、社区中的负面评价和看法，以及父亲参与度不足。还获得了关于向幼儿给予益生元/合生元的不同方式的见解。母亲/照料者与医护人员的研究结果相互印证表明，大多数确定的动机和挑战是相似的。
母亲/照料者和医护人员对益生元/合生元给药接受度良好，普遍认为其对健康有益。母亲/照料者自行给婴儿服用益生元/合生元可能是可行的，并可克服后勤方面的挑战。加大力度提高父亲和社区的认识并促使他们参与，对于基于社区的项目可能至关重要。
