biostudies-literatureImam ZOMedical Research CouncilMRC Confidence in Global Nutrition and Health Research schemeWellcome Truste0277847https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10923414biostudies-literatureUnknown19(3)<h4>Background</h4>Preterm (born < 37 weeks' gestation) and very low birthweight (VLBW; <1.5kg) infants are at the greatest risk of morbidity and mortality within the first 28 days of life. Establishing full enteral feeds is a vital aspect of their clinical care. Evidence predominantly from high income countries shows that early and rapid advancement of feeds is safe and reduces length of hospital stay and adverse health outcomes. However, there are limited data on feeding practices and factors that influence the attainment of full enteral feeds among these vulnerable infants in sub-Saharan Africa.<h4>Aim</h4>To identify factors that influence the time to full enteral feeds, defined as tolerance of 120ml/kg/day, in hospitalised preterm and VLBW infants in neonatal units in two sub-Saharan PloS oneTime to full enteral feeds in hospitalised preterm and very low birth weight infants in Nigeria and Kenya.PMC10923414MC_PC_MR/R019789/1MR/V030698/1Ezeaka CVEzenwa BNOtieno WEmbleton NDNabwera HMTongo OOAndang'o PEAAbubakar INeonatal Nutrition Network (NeoNuNet)Talbert AWMwangome MKImam ZOAbdulkadir IUmoru DDAllen SJAkindolire AEFajolu IBOlwala MNalwa GMfalseTime to full enteral feeds in hospitalised preterm and very low birth weight infants in Nigeria and Kenya.<h4>Background</h4>Preterm (born < 37 weeks' gestation) and very low birthweight (VLBW; <1.5kg) infants are at the greatest risk of morbidity and mortality within the first 28 days of life. Establishing full enteral feeds is a vital aspect of their clinical care. Evidence predominantly from high income countries shows that early and rapid advancement of feeds is safe and reduces length of hospital stay and adverse health outcomes. However, there are limited data on feeding practices and factors that influence the attainment of full enteral feeds among these vulnerable infants in sub-Saharan Africa.<h4>Aim</h4>To identify factors that influence the time to full enteral feeds, defined as tolerance of 120ml/kg/day, in hospitalised preterm and VLBW infants in neonatal units in two sub-Saharan 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242026-06-13T06:24:56.642Z2026-06-13T03:12:42.023ZS-EPMC109234143845747510.1371/journal.pone.0277847