Effect of Oro-Motor Intervention on Sucking Behaviour and Feeding Skills among Preterm Neonates

A, Abd Elrazek, Fatma.; Sabry Mahmoud, Engy; Saied, Hala

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2024.395962

Effect of Oro-Motor Intervention on Sucking Behaviour and Feeding Skills among Preterm Neonates

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor of Paediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University

² DNSC in administration nursing, director of Galaa Military Medical Complex

³ Associate Professor of Paediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, KSAU-HS.

10.21608/ejhc.2024.395962

Abstract

Preterm neonates oral feeding has been one of the common problems worldwide. A premature infant who is born at less than 36 weeks of gestation, usually has a problem in feeding and requires the use of enteral feeding. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Oro-motor intervention on sucking behaviour and feeding skills among preterm neonates. The study was conducted at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Al-Galaa Military Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. A purposive sample of 59 preterm neonates was recruited from the NICU. Data were collected using an instrument of 4 parts: part one, a demographic data questionnaire about the preterm neonats characteristics, and part two. “Preterm infant oral feeding readiness assessment scale Chinese version”(PIOFRAS-CV), part three, sucking rate and sucking amount, and part four oral feeding process measures . The result, of the study, found statistically significant differences in preterm neonates' oral feeding and readiness for sucking before and after implementing the Oro -Motor intervention. After 14 days, there was a significant difference between the intervention and control group in the mean sucking rate and amount of sucking (14.3226±2.10) compared to the control group( 11.9643±1.50).Conclusion: The study concluded that Oro-motor intervention positively impacted the sucking and feeding skills of premature neonates effectively promoting their feeding abilities. Recommendation: As a part of the standard of care for all preterm neonates, the study recommended reinforcing the significance of utilizing Oro-motor intervention programs on the transition to oral feeding and feeding readiness, which is a safe and effective non-invasive intervention.

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