Time to achieve full enteral feeding and its predictors among neonates weighing less than 2500g admitted to public hospitals in Hawassa municipal administration, Sidama region, Ethiopia: A follow up study

Background: Low birth weight neonates are at high risk for complications, including feeding intolerance and protracted hospital stays. Understanding and identifying predictive factors for time to achieve full enteral feeding can help optimize nutritional regimens and improve outcomes for LBW neonates admitted to Hawassa city Hospitals. Methodology: An institution-based longitudinal study design was used from September 2022 to December 2024. A total of 209 research participants were recruited using basic random sampling techniques. Trained data collectors used a structured questionnaire to gather data, and SPSS version 25 was used for data input, cleaning, and analysis. The study employed a Cox proportional hazards regression model to determine significant factors affecting the time required to attain full enteral feeding. To take confounding effects into account, independent variables identified by bivariate analysis with p-values less than 0.25 were included in the multivariate model. Result: Among of the 209 newborns admitted to the NICU at the hospitals, 174 [83.2% (95% CI = 78.1%-88.3%)] were able to attain full enteral feeding. Overall, five days was the median time to complete enteral feeding. Birth weight (AOR: 0.55, CI (0.32,0.93)), respiratory distress syndrome (AOR: 0.61, CI (0.39,0.94)), and breast feeding over formula milk (AOR: 2.2, CI (1.45,3.47)) were all predictors that were substantially correlated with the time to full enteral feeding. Conclusion: According to this study, the neonate achieved full enteral feeding rapidly. The findings also show that birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, and feeding method are key predictor of achieving full enteral feeding, with breastfeeding accelerating the process.