Experiences of At-Risk Women in Accessing Breastfeeding Social Support During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Women's views and experiences of breastfeeding during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic affected breastfeeding women in various ways. Understanding their experiences during the pandemic is crucial for informing actionable recommendations, evidence-based strategies and future policies to support breastfeeding during global pandemics. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence on women's breastfeeding perceptions, experiences and support needs during the pandemic. The Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) guidelines on systematic reviews of qualitative evidence were followed. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection databases were searched. Methodological quality of included papers was assessed using JBI's checklist for qualitative research. The synthesised findings were generated using JBI's meta-aggregation approach. The JBI ConQual process was used to rank each synthesised finding. Fifty-two papers were included. The synthesised findings included: (1) women's awareness and commitment to breastfeeding during the pandemic, (2) the multifaceted breastfeeding experiences of women during the pandemic, (3) breastfeeding practices and challenges for working women, (4) professional support during the pandemic: navigating breastfeeding in an evolving health care context and (5) family and peer support groups during the challenging times of the pandemic. Breastfeeding women require clear information, accessible in-person lactation support, family emotional support, food security and protection of psychological well-being. The review reported diverse breastfeeding experiences, from social support challenges to positive aspects like remote work. Breastfeeding support and lactation consultants should be considered as essential services in future pandemics. Food security is crucial for breastfeeding households. Lactation services could prioritise face-to-face consultations for physical challenges and providing online informational support. Future research could explore innovative breastfeeding education strategies.

Skilled lactation support using telemedicine in the neonatal intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

NICU mothers face unique challenges in initiating and sustaining breastfeeding, but previous studies have focused on outpatient breastfeeding support. We conducted a retrospective study of NICU breastfeeding outcomes before and after implementing telelactation.

METHODS

Pre-Telemedicine mothers received in-person support by NICU lactation consultants, while Telemedicine mothers received solely telemedicine consults after maternal discharge.

RESULTS

Exclusive breastmilk feeding at discharge increased in the Telemedicine group. Notably, babies in the Telemedicine cohort who were fed any formula on admission experienced significant improvement in exclusive breastmilk feeding at discharge, and those whose mothers received at least one NICU lactation consult had the greatest improvement in exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to validate the use of telemedicine as a means of maintaining access to skilled lactation support in the NICU when in-person consults are not feasible. Incorporating telemedicine can ensure access and continuity of skilled lactation support, and sustain breastfeeding rates.

Association of the presence of a COVID-19 infection at the time of birth and the rates of exclusive breastfeeding upon discharge in BFHI hospitals: a multicenter, prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Very few studies have assessed the association between COVID-19 infection and the rates of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) upon discharge following the first waves of the pandemic and after initiation of vaccination. The primary objective of this study is to compare the rates of EBF since birth upon discharge in mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 infection at the time of the delivery versus a group of non-infected mothers in maternity hospitals with Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) accreditation. The secondary objectives include determining the rates of any breastfeeding at three and six months of life in both groups, as well as determining the possible factors associated with EBF rates observed upon discharge.

METHODS

An observational, Spanish multi-center hospital, prospective cohort study conducted from 1 to 2021 to 31 March 2022 and with follow-up during the first six months of life. Follow-up was performed via telephone contact with calls performed at three and six months. A multivariate logistic regression analysis model was used to identify the factors related to a lower probability of EBF upon discharge.

RESULTS

308 mother-infant pairs participated in the study, 111 in the cohort of women with COVID infection and 197 in the comparison group. EBF upon discharge was 62.7% in the COVID group vs. 81.2% in the comparison group (p = 0.002); at three months; 52.4% vs. 57.0% (p = 0.33) were performing EBF, with the rates of EBF at six months being 43.0% vs. 39.3% (p = 0.45), respectively. Exposure to COVID-19 at delivery (AOR 5.28; 95% CI 2.01, 13.86), not practicing BF previously (AOR 36.3; 95% CI 7.02, 187.74), birth via Cesarean section (AOR 5.06; 95% CI 1.62, 15.79) and low birth weight of the newborn (AOR 1.01; 95% CI 1.01, 1.01) were associated with a greater risk of not performing EBF upon discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers with a mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection at the time of the delivery were less likely to have exclusively breastfed during their hospital stay than other mothers in these BFHI-accredited hospitals. However, there were no differences in breastfeeding rates between the groups at three and six months postpartum.

Perinatal care and breastfeeding education during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from Kenyan mothers and healthcare workers

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breastfeeding (BF) practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is not well understood. Modifications in BF guidelines and delivery platforms for breastfeeding education during the COVID-19 pandemic are hypothesised to have affected BF practices. We aimed to understand the experiences with perinatal care, BF education and practice among Kenyan mothers who delivered infants during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted in-depth key informant interviews with 45 mothers who delivered infants between March 2020 and December 2021, and 26 health care workers (HCW) from four health facilities in Naivasha, Kenya. While mothers noted that HCWs provided quality care and BF counselling, individual BF counselling was cited to be less frequent than before the pandemic due to altered conditions in health facilities and COVID-19 safety protocols. Mothers stated that some HCW messages emphasised the immunologic importance of BF. However, knowledge among mothers about the safety of BF in the context of COVID-19 was limited, with few participants reporting specific counselling or educational materials on topics such as COVID-19 transmission through human milk and the safety of nursing during a COVID-19 infection. Mothers described COVID-19-related income loss and lack of support from family and friends as the major challenge to practising exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) as they wished or planned. COVID-19 restrictions limited or prevented mothers' access to familial support at facilities and at home, causing them stress and fatigue. In some cases, mothers reported job loss, time spent seeking new means of employment and food insecurity as causes for milk insufficiency, which contributed to mixed feeding before 6 months. The COVID-19 pandemic created changes to the perinatal experience for mothers. While messages about the importance of practising EBF were provided, altered HCW education delivery methods, reduced social support and food insecurity limit EBF practices for mothers in this context.

Simulation for breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey: A quasi-experimental study

We aimed to investigate the effect of simulation-supported breastfeeding program given to women in pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic period on breastfeeding success, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and mother-infant attachment. They carried out this study 73 pregnant women who presented to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a hospital and were selected by using the simple random sampling method. The researchers used a quasi-experimental design in this study. After the simulation-supported breastfeeding program, they found that breastfeeding success and breastfeeding self-efficacy were increased in the experimental group compared to the control group. The researchers were used the structural equation model, regression analysis, and independent samples t-test in the data analysis. The education given to pregnant women in this period when social interaction decreases becomes more important. Researchers are recommended that breastfeeding education should start in the antenatal period and continue in the postpartum period by using different education methods together. Simulation-supported breastfeeding program is a model that can be used to provide breastfeeding education for pregnant women in public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. With this program, the number of visits to the hospital for breastfeeding education will decrease, and more remote counseling will be provided.

Examining the Role of Interpersonal Violence in Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding in North Dakota (ND PRAMS 2017-2019)

BACKGROUND

The 2019 overall breastfeeding initiation rate in the US was 84.1%, yet only 76.6% of American Indian (AI) women initiated breastfeeding. In North Dakota (ND), AI women have greater exposure to interpersonal violence than other racial/ethnic groups. Stress associated with interpersonal violence may interfere with processes important to breastfeeding. We explored whether interpersonal violence partially explains racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding in ND.

METHODS

Data for 2161 women were drawn from the 2017-2019 ND Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Breastfeeding questions in PRAMS have been tested among diverse populations. Breastfeeding initiation was self-report to "Did you ever breastfeed or pump breast milk to feed your new baby, even for a short period?" (yes/no). Breastfeeding duration (2 months; 6 months) was self-reported how many weeks or months of breastmilk feeding. Interpersonal violence for both 12 months before and during pregnancy based on self-report (yes/no) of violence from a husband/partner, family member, someone else, or ex-husband/partner. An "Any violence" variable was created if participants reported "yes" to any violence. Logistic regression models estimated crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for breastfeeding outcomes among AI and Other Race women compared to White women. Sequential models were adjusted for interpersonal violence (husband/partner, family member, someone else, ex-husband/partner, or any).

RESULTS

AI women had 45% reduced odds of initiating breastfeeding (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.82) compared to white women. Including interpersonal violence during pregnancy did not change results. Similar patterns were observed for all breastfeeding outcomes and all interpersonal violence exposures.

DISCUSSION

Interpersonal violence does not explain the disparity in breastfeeding in ND. Considering cultural ties to the tradition of breastfeeding and the role of colonization may provide a better understanding of breastfeeding among AI populations.

Social Support for Breastfeeding Practice During the COVID-19 Second Wave in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Since December 2020, the second wave of COVID-19 in Thailand has had a considerable impact, and mothers have struggled to receive breastfeeding support in hospitals. In this situation, there has been limited research that addresses social support for breastfeeding and the influences of support in determining breastfeeding outcomes.

RESEARCH AIMS

(1) To describe the influence of COVID-19 on social support for breastfeeding and breastfeeding practices in the Thai context, and (2) to examine breastfeeding duration with different levels of social support from families and healthcare providers.

METHOD

This descriptive, cross-sectional online survey design was part of a larger multi-methods project about breastfeeding behaviors and experiences among postpartum mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online questionnaires were administered from August to November 2021 to participants (N = 390) who were from three provinces in Thailand and had given birth 6-12 months prior to the survey.

RESULTS

Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was observed in less than half of the participants (n = 146, 37.4%). Perceptions of breastfeeding support were generally high overall among both family (Mdn = 45, IQR = 7) and healthcare providers (Mdn = 43, IQR = 7). Participants who perceived more breastfeeding support from families than the median had significantly longer exclusive breastfeeding durations than those who perceived less breastfeeding support than the median (z = -2.246, p = .025). The same pattern was present for breastfeeding support from healthcare providers (z = -2.380, p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

While the exclusive breastfeeding rate was better than the pre-pandemic rate, successful breastfeeding was more common when participants perceived that they had received breastfeeding support. Policymakers should execute breastfeeding support systems along with COVID-19 management.

Factors associated with postpartum depression symptoms among postpartum women in five countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: an online cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to examine factors associated with postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among postpartum women in five countries, a subject that has not been investigated thus far.

METHODS

A multi-country, cross-sectional, online survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 3,523 postpartum women in Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Kingdom, from July to November 2021. Sociodemographic and obstetric data, food insecurity, COVID-19 positive status, COVID-19 vaccination, infant feeding, breastfeeding belief score, and social support were investigated. PPD and social support were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Maternal Social Support Scale, respectively. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and t-tests were used to identify associations with PPD symptoms. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify explanatory factors associated with PPD and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

Women in Taiwan (AOR = 0.5; 95%CI 0.34, 0.73) and Thailand (AOR = 0.68; 95%CI 0.46, 0.99) had a lower risk of PPD symptoms than those in Brazil. In addition, women with planned pregnancies had a lower risk of PPD (AOR = 0.74; 95%CI 0.60, 0.91). Younger women (AOR = 1.62; 95%CI 1.05, 2.51), health problems during pregnancy, delivery, or postpartum (AOR = 1.71; 95%CI 1.42, 2.06), and no change or worse food insecurity during COVID-19 (AOR = 1.66; 95%CI 1.21, 1.27 for no change and AOR = 1.68; 95%CI 1.27, 1.23, respectively) presented a higher likelihood of having PPD. Feeding babies with expressed human milk (AOR = 1.25; 95%CI 1.03, 1.50) and/or complementary food (AOR = 1.51; 95%CI 1.17, 1.94) were associated with PPD symptoms. Women who received low (AOR = 7.74; 95%CI 5.43, 11.03) or medium support (AOR = 3.25; 95%CI 2.71, 3.88) had higher likelihoods of PPD.

CONCLUSION

PPD symptoms during the pandemic were high in young women, particularly Brazilian women, with health problems in the puerperal pregnancy cycle who fed their babies expressed breast milk and/or complementary food. Low social support also impacted PPD symptoms. This study highlights the need for the professional screening for PPD and provision of virtual or personal support.