Transição sonda – via oral em recém-nascidos prematuros internados em Unidade Neonatal de Hospital Amigo da Criança

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical and therapeutic factors associated with achieving exclusive oral feeding in preterm newborns during hospitalization in the Neonatal Unit. Method: A descriptive and analytical observational cross-sectional study conducted in a Baby-Friendly Hospital. Data were obtained from speech therapy records containing information on the transition from tube feeding to oral feeding, from the initial evaluation to the babies' speech therapy discharge. The outcome variable was the time required to achieve oral feeding, while the explanatory variables were related to clinical and therapeutic data, as well as speech therapy assessment and intervention. Descriptive, correlation, and association analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Pearson’s chi-square tests, along with Spearman’s correlation coefficient, considering statistical significance at p≤0.05.Results: A shorter transition time to oral feeding was associated with higher gestational age and birth weight (at birth and evaluation), higher Apgar score at the 5th minute, presence of the mother during the evaluation, alert behavioral state, adequate rooting reflex, tongue cupping, intraoral pressure, lip seal, and sucking rhythm, absence of stress signs, and exclusive breastfeeding. The average number of intervention days required to achieve exclusive oral feeding was 5.5. Conclusion: The associations found in the study indicate statistical relationships between different factors and the time required for the transition from tube feeding to exclusive oral feeding in preterm newborns.