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

Abstract

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.

Association of maternal SARS‐CoV‐2 infection at the time of admission for delivery with labor process and outcomes of vaginal birth: A cohort study

“…The world has witnessed a reduction in breastfeeding rates during the pandemic. 4,[42][43][44] Whereas the evidence regarding the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through breast milk remains inconclusive, it has been well recognized that breastfeeding can offer enormous health benefits to both the mother and the child. WHO recommends that mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to have skin-to-skin contact with their newborns and initiate and continue breastfeeding.…”

“…However, we did not have any information on such factors to be able to perform an adjusted analysis. The world has witnessed a reduction in breastfeeding rates during the pandemic 4,42–44 . Whereas the evidence regarding the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 through breast milk remains inconclusive, it has been well recognized that breastfeeding can offer enormous health benefits to both the mother and the child.…”