“The impact of coronavirus outbreak on breastfeeding guidelines among Brazilian hospitals and maternity services: a cross-sectional study”

Abstract

Background: Recommended by the World Health Organization, exclusive breastfeeding is a safe source of nutrition available for children in most humanitarian emergencies, as in the current pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Despite the Brazilian national Guideline protecting breastfeeding practice, there are many concerns about protecting babies from their infected mothers. This study aimed to analyze how the Brazilian hospitals and maternity services promote and support mothers suspected or diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional and multicenter study collecting data from 24 Brazilian hospitals and maternity services from March to July 2020. Representatives of the institutions completed a questionnaire based on acts to promote and support breastfeeding, Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and Brazil’s federal law recommendations.Results: The results showed that in delivery rooms, 98.5% of the services prohibited immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and companions for the mother and did not support mothers to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour. In rooming-in, 98.5% of the services allowed breastfeeding and recommend care for babies following the respiratory hygiene practices to prevent transmission of COVID-19 and whether companions are forbidden (83.3%). Hospital discharge was mostly early (79.1%); the guidelines were not individualized. Additionally, a lack of support was noticed from the health community network in the home environment (83.3%). Hospital and home breast pumping were allowed (87.5%), but breast milk donation was not accepted (95.8%). Conclusions: In Brazil, the hospitals are not able to approach recommendations to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding properly during the COVID-19 outbreak. The scientific community needs to discuss how to improve maternal and baby care services to protect breastfeeding in the current pandemic.

Associations between breastfeeding intention, breastfeeding practices and post‐natal depression during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A multi‐country cross‐sectional study

“…Moreover, recent COVID‐19 studies continued to show the impact of COVID‐19 on breastfeeding support. For example, a lack of breastfeeding support was reported from health care services in Brazil during the pandemic (Gonçalves‐Ferri et al, 2021). A UK survey of infant feeding specialists/workers in November 2021 reported reduced face‐to‐face support due to reduced staff capacity, new COVID regulations, challenges with finding suitable venues and staff redevelopment (UNICEF, 2021).…”

Aleitamento materno no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19: uma revisão de escopo

“…A falta de diretrizes e padronização do aleitamento materno no contexto da COVID-19 inclusive no âmbito hospitalar mostra-se também presente. Um estudo transversal multicêntrico (Gonçalves-Ferri et al, 2021) brasileiro coletou dados de 24 hospitais e maternidades brasileiras entre março e julho de 2020. O estudo encontrou que, nas salas de parto, 98,5% dos serviços proibiam o contato pele a pele imediato e ininterrupto entre as mães e seus bebês e não apoiavam as mães para iniciar a amamentação na primeira hora.…”

Postnatal women’s breastfeeding beliefs, practices, and support during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional comparative study across five countries

“…Nevertheless, an increase in women who avoided using the health system for postpartum care and lactation support and the counseling on offer, tended to feel detached from their babies due to the fear of COVID-19 transmission through breastmilk. This impacted the breastfeeding rates in the short and long term [15,16]. Therefore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding rates may have been adversely affected by misinformation on the benefits of breastfeeding and infant protection [17].…”