TITLE:
Effect of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention on Feeding Progression and Length of Hospital Stay: A Randomized Controlled Trial in a Tertiary Hospital in Burkina Faso
AUTHORS:
Chantal Zoungrana Ouattara, Aissa Dembélé, Rolande Kaboré, Oumarou Sawadogo, Angèle Zongo, Roselyne Ouattara, Flore Ouédraogo, Angèle Kalmogho, Caroline Yonaba, Fla Kouéta
KEYWORDS:
Preterm Infant, PIOMI, Oral Feeding, Length of Hospital Stay, Developmental Care
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.16 No.3,
March
30,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: To evaluate the effect of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) on oral feeding progression and length of hospital stay in preterm infants hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Burkina Faso, a low-resource setting where neonatal care relies largely on simplified developmental care practices. Methods: A randomized, open-label, two-parallel-group trial was conducted in the neonatal unit of the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital (CHU-YO), Ouagadougou, from November 7, 2024 to January 6, 2025. Preterm infants with a gestational age of 29 - 34 weeks were randomized into two matched groups according to gestational age and birth weight: the PIOMI group (n = 30) and a control group receiving standard care (n = 30). Standard care consisted of routine developmental and supportive neonatal practices including kangaroo mother care, sensory protection, swaddling, and analgesic oral sucrose during procedures. The primary outcome was length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included time to achieve feeding independence, progression through feeding stages, and weight gain. Results: The initial characteristics of the sixty premature infants included were comparable between the groups: Gestational age (31.1 ± 1.2 GA vs 31.0 ± 1.1 GA; p = 0.78), and birth weight (1248 ± 180 g vs 1239 ± 175 g; p = 0.84). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the PIOMI group: 15.6 ± 4.8 days vs 20.1 ± 5.2 days (p = 0.003), representing an average reduction of 4.5 days. The time to achieve feeding independence was shorter in the PIOMI group: 11.2 ± 2.1 days vs 13.0 ± 2.4 days (p = 0.01). The average daily weight gain was higher in the PIOMI group: 18.2 ± 4.3 g/kg/day vs 15.1 ± 3.9 g/kg/day (p = 0.02). Conclusion: PIOMI improves feeding progression and significantly reduces the length of hospital stay for preterm infants. This simple and inexpensive intervention could be integrated into developmental care in neonatal units in resource-constrained countries.