The impact of COVID-19 on breastfeeding rates: An international cross-sectional study.
Ana Ganho-Ávila, Raquel Guiomar, Mónica Sobral and 18 others
PMID 36822049WHAT IT FOUND
Postpartum women reported breastfeeding more often with maternity leave or virtual support groups, and less often with older babies, first children, preterm birth, neonatal care, or current psychiatric treatment.
These are associations, not proven causes.
Key findings
01Mothers were less likely to report breastfeeding when their baby was older, when it was their first child, when the birth was preterm, or when the baby needed neonatal care.
02Breastfeeding was also less likely when the mother was receiving psychiatric treatment, when she lacked support after hospital discharge, or when she perceived no relevant change in prenatal care during the pandemic.
03Being on maternity leave and having access to virtual support groups were associated with higher breastfeeding probability.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional and self-reported, so it cannot show that any factor caused changes in breastfeeding. Recruitment was online and through social media, and many responders were excluded: 15,611 answered but only 5612 were eligible. Data were collected in June to October 2020, after many early pandemic practices had already changed, so it may miss the earliest effects on perinatal services. Only 2.7% of women reported COVID-19 diagnosis, so the study cannot reliably show whether diagnosis affected breastfeeding. The survey did not measure ethnicity, partner support or breastfeeding intentions, which are known influences. Missing answers were filled using a statistical method, although complete answers in 3337 women broadly mirrored the main analysis.
Declared interests
The authors state no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that virtual support groups or maternity leave caused more breastfeeding. This was a cross-sectional survey, so these factors were associated with breastfeeding status at the same time point and cannot show cause.