title: [Factors associated to oral feeding transition in preterm infants].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral feeding is one of the most complicated tasks for a preterm infant to achieve.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the factors associated with the start and extension (time) of oral feeding transition in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 preterm infants born with gestational ages of 34 weeks and 6 days maximum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pulmonary, cardiac, hematological medical complications and the presence of infection present statistically significant relation to the start and extension of oral feeding transition in preterm infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The speech-pathologist who works at Neonatal Care Units should have the knowledge about the factors that interfere in the ability of preterm infants to be orally fed, so that the assistance given by this professional is more efficient and secure.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo. kabuhler@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Karina Elena Bernardis
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bühler
authors.forename: Suelly Cecília Olivan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Limongi
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors