Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mothers’ Breastfeeding Status

Year 2024, Volume: 24 Issue: 2, 92 - 98, 15.08.2024

Ayse Unsal , Tülay Kuzlu Ayyıldız

https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2024.1322076

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted descriptively to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the breastfeeding status of mothers with infants aged 0-24 months.

Methods: The study was conducted at the Ankara City Hospital in the breastfeeding support/relactation clinic and mother-infant bonding service between December 2021 and May 2022. A sample of 511 mothers who applied to the clinics mentioned during the study period, agreed to participate in the research, and met the research criteria was formed. Research data were collected using a Descriptive Data Form.

Results: The average age of the mothers was 28±4.7 (18-44), and 51.66% had a caesarian delivery. Approximately 54.41% of the mothers were university graduates. During the pandemic, it was determined that 13.0% of the mothers experienced breastfeeding-related problems, and all mothers who experienced problems hesitated to go to the hospital. It was found that 12.14% of the mothers had COVID-19 during pregnancy, and 69.70% of the mothers who had COVID-19 did not continue to breastfeed. The rate of mothers who stated that they did not receive any information about breastfeeding during the COVID-19 period was 57.6%, and the rate of mothers who had breastfeeding problems after quarantine was 17.50%. During their hospital stay due to COVID-19, it was determined that 48.7% of the mothers breastfed their babies, 41.0% fed expressed breast milk and formula,and 10.3% fed only formula.

Conclusions: It was observed that mothers needed breastfeeding counselling during the pandemic.

Keywords

Pandemic, breastfeeding, breastmilk

Project Number

yok

References

• World Health Organization (WHO). Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Access Date: June 27, 2020). Access Address: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen google scholar
• Usen S. “Mandatory” working from home during the COVID-19 Pandemic: implications for work and private life. İ.Ü. Faculty of Economics Human Resources Research Center:2020, Istanbul. (Access Date: March 27, 2022). Access address: https://cdn. istanbul.edu.tr/FileHandler2.ashx?f=ozet.-inkam.-evdencalisma. pdf google scholar
• Güler M, Nalbant F. Problems and solution suggestions that the “working from home” application can create on employees. Journal of Human and Social Sciences Research 2022;11(1):530-549. google scholar
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP). Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children. (Access Date: 21.03.2020). Access: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/ pregnancy-breastfeeding. google scholar
• Keskindemirci G. Breastmilk and COVID-19. Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine 2020;83(3):286-290. google scholar
• Karabayır N, Sapmaz S, Gökçay G. COVID-19 and breastfeeding. Children’s Magazine 2020;2(2):72-75, google scholar Chen H, Guo J, Wang C, Luo F, Yu X, et al. Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: A retrospective review of medical records. Lancet 2020;395(10226):809- 815. google scholar
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP). Coronavirus Disease Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Coronavirus Disease 2019 Stressand Coping. (Access date: 09.05.2020). Access Address: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-lifecoping/managing-stressanxiety.html? google scholar
• World Health Organization. (WHO), Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public, (Access Date: 13.06.2020). Access: https:// www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/needextraprecautions/ people- at-higher-risk.html. google scholar
• De Rose DU, Piersigilli F, Ronchetti MP, Santisi A, Bersani I, Dotta A, et al. & Novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) in newborns and infants: What we know so far. Ital J Pediatr 2020;1-8 46:56. google scholar
• Wang SS, Zhou X, Lin XG, Liu YY, Wu JL, Sharifu LM, et al. Experience of Clinical Management For pregnant women and newborns with novel coronavirus pneumonia in Tongjihospital. China Curr Med Sci 2020;40(2):285—9. google scholar
• Works HC. Old and New Approaches to COVID-19 Disease Transmission. Covid-19 Pandemic 18 Months Evaluation Report, 29. (Access date: 09.03.2022). Access Address: https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/79057551/COVID19_ Pandemisi_18_Ay_Degerleme_Raporu google scholar
• Turken M, Kose S. Covid-19 transmission routes and prevention. Tepecik Training and Research Hospital Journal 2020;30: 36-42. google scholar
• World Health Organization (WHO). Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. World Health Organization, 2003. ISBN 92 4 156221 8 pp 5-10 (Accessed date: 27.06.2022). Access Address: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241562218 google scholar
• World Health Organization (WHO). Infant and young feeding: Model chapter for text boxing for medical students and allied health professionals. World Health Organization, 2009. ISBN 9789241597494 pp 5-10 6-9 (Accessed on 27.06.2022). Access Address: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23905206/ google scholar
• Özdemir Ö, Ayşegül PALA. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Covid-19 infection in children. Journal of Biotechnology and Strategic Health Research2020; 4:14-21. google scholar
• Karaşın Y, Ateş M, Aşcı S. Comparison of anxiety and depression levels of pregnant women according to their Covid-19 status. Journal of Academic Perspective on Social Studies 2022;1(1):11-18. google scholar
• Pereira A, Cruz-Melguizo S, Adrien M, Fuentes L, Marin E, Forti A et al. Breastfeeding motherswith COVID-19 infection: A case series. International Breastfeeding Journal 2020;15(1):1-8. google scholar
• Gottfredsson, M. The Spanish flu in Iceland 1918. Lessons in medicine and history. Laeknabladid 2008;94(11):737-745. google scholar
• Ashokka B, Loh MH, Tan CH, Su LL, Young BE, Lye DC, et al. Care of the Ppegnant woman with COVID-19 in labor and delivery: Anesthesia, emergency cesarean delivery, differential diagnosis in the acutely ill parturient, Care of the newborn, and protection of the healthcare personnel. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2020; (1):66-74. google scholar
• Mutlu O, Uygun İ, Erden F. Drugs used in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Kocaeli University Journal of Health Sciences 2020; 6(3):167-173. google scholar
• TR. Ministry of Health. COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2 Infection) Guide. (Access Date: 16.07. 2020). Access Address: https://covid19.saglik. gov.tr/TR-66301/covid-19-rehberi.html google scholar
• Gökçay G, Keskindermirci G. Breast milk and COVID-19. J Ist Faculty Med 2020; 83(3):286-90. google scholar
• World Health Organization (WHO). Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. (Access date: 09.12.2020). Access address: https:// www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novelcoronavirus-2019 google scholar
• Davanzo R, Moro G, Sandri F, Agosti M, Moretti C, Mosca F. Breastfeeding and coronavirus disease 2019: Ad interim indications of the Italian Society of Neonatology endorsed by the Union of European Neonatal & Perinatal Societies. Maternal &Child Nutrition 2020; 16(3):e13010. google scholar
• Wang L, Shi Y, Xiao T, Fu J, Feng X, Mu D, Zhou W. Chinese expert consensus on the perinatal and neonatal management for the prevention and control of the 2019 novel coronavirus infection. Annals of Translational Medicine 2020; 8(3):234-9. google scholar
• Taşlar N, Doğan R.A, Hancıoğlu Aytaç S. The importance of breastfeeding in the pandemic process. Unika Journal of Health Sciences 2021; 1(3):180-189. google scholar
• Stuebe A. Should infants be separated from mothers with COVID-19? First, do no harm. Breastfeed Med 2020; 15(5):1-2. google scholar
• Dong Y, Mo X, Hu Y, Qi X, Jiang F, Jiang Z. Epidemiology of COVID-19 among children in Chinai. Pediatrics 2020; 145:e20200702. google scholar
• Peng S, Zhu H, Yang L, Cao L, Huang X, Dynes M, et al. A study of breastfeeding practices, SARS-CoV-2 and its antibodies in the breast milk of mothers confirmed with COVID-19. The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific 2020; 4:100045. google scholar
• Douedi S, Miskoff J. Novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19): A case report and review of treatments. Medicine 2020; 99(19):1-4. google scholar
• Nalbantoğlu AN, Nalbantoğlu B, Gökçay G. Knowledge and attitudes of mothers about breastfeeding and breast milk in the course of Covid-19 infection. Namık Kemal Medical Journal 2020; 8(3):314-320. google scholar
• Kaner G. The importance of breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Izmir Katip Celebi University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal 2020; 5(2):153-158. google scholar
• Cheema R, Partridge E, Kair LR, Kara M, Riordon KM, Silva AI. et al. Protecting breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Perinatology Am J Perinatol 2023; 40(03):260-266. doi https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1714277. google scholar
• Ceulemans M, Hompes T, Foulon V. Mental health status of pregnant and breastfeeding women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A call for action. International Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics 2020; 151(1):146-147. google scholar
• Berthelot N, Lemieux R, Garon-Bissonnette J, Drouin-Maziade C, Martel E, Maziade M Uptrend in distress and psychiatric symptomatology inpregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2020; 99:848-55. google scholar
• Du L, Gu YB, Cui MQ, Li WX, Wang J, Zhu LP, et al. Investigation on demands for antenatal care services among 2002 pregnant women during the epidemic of COVID-19 in Shanghai. Zhonghua fu Chan ke za zhi2020;55(3):160—5. google scholar
• Nazik F, Yüksekol Ö D, Baltacı N, Ulucan M. Pregnant women receiving prenatal care and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. TOGU Journal of Health Sciences 2022; 2(2):111-122. google scholar
• Yıldız Y, Gurlek B, Yıldız İE, Aydın T, Kanburoglu MK, Yılmaz B. The effects of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic onroutine antenatal care visits and complications of pregnancy. Revista da Associaçao Medica Brasileira 2021; 67(6):833-838. google scholar
• Wu H, Sun W, Huang X. Online antenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic: opportunities and challenges. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2020; 22(7):e19916. google scholar
• Latha V, Devi C R. Antenatal care on pregnant mothers during COVID-19 pandemic. TNNMC Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing 2021; 9(1):39- 46. google scholar
• Aydın R, Kızılkaya T, Aytaç SH, Taşlar N. In the COVID-19 pandemic; Social support needs of women during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum period and midwifery approaches. Electronic Turkish Studies 2020; 15(4):679-90. google scholar