Impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child health

Abstract

Impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child healthThe study by Timothy Roberton and colleagues (July, 2020), 1 which modelled the indirect effects of COVID-19 on maternal and child mortality in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), highlights potential consequences of disruptions to routine health care and decreased access to food. While the total projected impact is shocking, the analysis omitted modelling disruptions in breastfeeding practices because the authors "assumed only a marginal reduction in these activities." 1 The COVID-19 pandemic is already indirectly threatening breastfeeding practices (early initiation and exclusive and continued breastfeeding). Universal breastfeeding could prevent 823 000 child deaths per year, 2 yet additional examination as part of COVID-19 impact modelling is needed.During the COVID-19 pandemic, reductions in breastfeeding prevalence will plausibly occur due to limitations in the provision and use of health services and disruptions to the enabling environment. Limitations in the availability of skilled health workers and increased reluctance by women to use the health system could lead to lower coverage of antenatal care, postnatal care, and facility and communitybased lactation support and counselling. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some health facilities are inappropriately separating newborn babies from mothers and discouraging breastfeeding because of unfounded fears of transmission of COVID-19 through breastmilk. These situations might result in a decline in early initiation of breastfeeding after birth-missing the child's first natural vaccine (colostrum)-and, in turn, exclusive breastfeeding.The enabling household environment for breastfeeding can be

Breastfeeding during COVID-19: A Narrative Review of the Psychological Impact on Mothers

“…For example, COVID-19-positive mothers may face clinical impediment for breastfeeding; there is limited professional support during the first days after birth to help parents deal with negative experiences (e.g., difficult latching, sore nipples, thrust infections, tongue ties), and social distancing measures impair the familial or social environment that support the young parents’ journey [ 11 ]. On the contrary, there may be an increase in breastfeeding practices as mothers previously not planning to breastfeed change their plans because the pandemic extends their maternal leave or increases their presence at home [ 12 ], or breastfeeding is even seen as a protective measure to boost the newborns’ health. Additionally, extensive media coverage can induce fears in new parents and clinicians related to both formula and breastfeeding practices, changing perspectives and assumptions during a global health crisis.…”

Old Tricks, New Opportunities: How Companies Violate the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes and Undermine Maternal and Child Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Even though there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted via breastfeeding [ 12 , 13 ] and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidance supports breastfeeding with appropriate precautions for mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 [ 14 ], the pandemic is threatening breastfeeding practices. Depleted healthcare resources and reduced use of health facilities are compromising antenatal and postnatal care and lactation support [ 15 ]. COVID-19 guidelines in several countries discourage breastfeeding [ 12 , 16 , 17 ] and some studies have raised questions about breastfeeding in the context of COVID-19 [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…BMS manufacturers and distributors (including bottles and teats companies) are aggressively marketing their products in violation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. These marketing practices exacerbate disruptions in breastfeeding, and are likely to have compounding effects at a time when risks of maternal and child mortality, morbidity, and malnutrition are already heightened [ 10 , 15 , 25 ].…”

Psychological outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

“…Since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus first broke out in China in December 2019, it has continued to spread [ 1 , 2 ]. The resultant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic [ 3 ], which has had an extremely negative impact on public health [ 4 ]. The health care system faces numerous disruptions as the death toll from the virus continues to increase and becomes increasingly more difficult to control [ 5 ].…”