The impact of COVID-19 on breastfeeding rates : an international cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding promotes children’s health and is associated with positive effects to maternal physical and mental health. Uncertainties regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission led to worries experienced by women and health professionals which impacted breastfeeding plans. We aimed to investigate the im- pact of self-reported and country-specific factors on breastfeeding rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This study is part of a broader international prospective cohort study about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health (Riseup-PPD-COVID-19). We analysed data from 5612 women, across 12 countries. Potential covariates of breastfeeding (sociodemographic, perinatal, physical/mental health, professional perinatal care, changes in healthcare due to the pandemic, COVID-19 related, breastfeeding support, governmental containment measures and countries’ inequality levels) were studied by Generalized Linear Mixed-Effects Models.

Results: A model encompassing all covariates of interest explained 24% of the variance of breastfeeding rates across countries (first six months postpartum). Overall, first child ( β= -0.27), age of the child ( β= -0.29), preterm birth ( β= -0.52), admission to the neonatal/pediatric care ( β= -0.44), lack of breastfeeding support ( β= -0.18), current psychiatric treatment ( β= -0.69) and inequality ( β= -0.71) were negatively associated with breastfeeding ( p < .001). Access to postnatal support groups was posi tively associated with breastfeeding ( β= 0.59; p < .001). In countries with low-inequality, governmental measures to contain virus transmission had a deleterious effect on breastfeeding ( β= -0.16; p < .05) while access to maternity leave protected breastfeeding ( β= 0.50; p < .001).

Discussion: This study shows that mother’s COVID-19 diagnosis and changes in healthcare and birth/postnatal plans did not influence breastfeeding rates. Virtual support groups help women manage breastfeeding, particularly when their experiencing a first child and for those under psychiatric treatment. The complex associations between covariates and breastfeeding vary across countries, suggesting the need to define context-specific measures to support breastfeeding.