Pasteurized Donor Human Milk: Assessing Disparities in Patient Knowledge, Perspectives, and Uptake [ID 1081]

INTRODUCTION: As hospital systems’ uptake of pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) for preterm neonates has increased, families with term infants may be offered PDHM as a supplemental bridge. Little is known regarding equity of access and patient knowledge of PDHM. METHODS: We conducted an in-person survey on patient knowledge of PDHM in August 2024 of postpartum patients being discharged from a large baby-friendly hospital in the Northeast where PDHM supplementation is universally available. Two-tailed t-tests via STATA assessed differences in rates of knowledge of PDHM as a feeding option by demographic variables. RESULTS: Response rate was 83.5% (n=71). Participants' demographics were as follows: 52% White, 38% Hispanic or Latinx, 31% born outside of the United States, 51% public insurance, 45% received public benefits, 11% spoke language other than English or Spanish at home. Seventy-five percent (n=53) of respondents had heard of PDHM; 7% (n=5) used PDHM. Rates of knowledge of PDHM as a feeding option were significantly lower among those with high school education or less, Hispanic ethnicity, birth location outside of the United States, public insurance, and receipt of WIC or SNAP. There were no differences by race, parity, age, or prior breastfeeding experience. The majority of participants (61%, n=43) disagreed with “I would never use donor breast milk from a milk bank for my infant.” Only 36% (n=25) agreed that their medical team fully informed them of risks and benefits of using PDHM. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Interventions to promote equitable access of PDHM should focus on multilingual, accessible education and reasons for refusal and mistrust.