Human Milk Banking: Sustainability of Donor Human Milk for Vulnerable Infants (phase 3)

Donor human milk is the best, lifesaving, alternative for feeding vulnerable (e.g. premature) newborns when their mother's own milk is not available in sufficient quantities. In many countries, including Switzerland, human milk donation cannot meet demand. While much is known about sustaining other types of human donations, such as blood, little research has been done on this for human milk donation. The aim of my PhD thesis is to investigate key factors influencing the sustainability of human milk donation to milk banks. A mixed-methods study design will investigate donation sustainability at macro level (policy and guidelines), mezzo level (milk banks stakeholders) and micro level (milk donors). This proposal focuses on the mezzo level. Semi-structured interviews with 10-12 key stakeholders will be thematically analysed to identify barriers, facilitators, and mechanisms for improvement to sustain human milk donation in Switzerland. This step is crucial to inform evidence-based strategies for sustainable collection of milk and contribute to increasing human milk provision for vulnerable infants, a public health priority

• Commission scientifique du domaine santé, HES-SO Rectorat