Feeding Strategies in Newborns and Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Polish Cross-Sectional Study

Aleksandra Wesołowska; Bartłomiej Walczak; Kinga Kalita-Kurzyńska; Aleksandra Mołas; Agnieszka Bzikowska-Jura

doi:10.3389/ijph.2023.1605590

Feeding Strategies in Newborns and Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Polish Cross-Sectional Study

Int J Public Health. 2023 Jun 29:68:1605590. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605590. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Aleksandra Wesołowska^{1

2}, Bartłomiej Walczak³, Kinga Kalita-Kurzyńska¹, Aleksandra Mołas¹, Agnieszka Bzikowska-Jura¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Biology, Laboratory of Human Milk and Lactation Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
² Human Milk Bank Foundation, Warsaw, Poland.
³ Institute of Applied Social Sciences, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to analyze factors affecting feeding strategies of newborns and infants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. Methods: The cross-sectional study using a self-developed CAWI questionnaire was conducted between February and April 2021 among Polish mothers. The analysis included responses from 1,485 women who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The inferential analysis uses Parson's chi-square test and the series of logistic models. The data were weighted to adjust age and educational level distribution. Results: When hospitalized, lack of skin-to-skin contact (OR = 0.094; p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.057 0.156]), not being informed about direct breastfeeding in the pandemic (OR = 0.195, p = 0.006, 95% CI [0.61 0.62]) and being suspected for COVID-19 (OR = 0.379, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.223 0.642]) reduced the probability of breastfeeding. Feeding plans and feeding after leaving the hospital were impacted only by the educational level (OR = 2.463, p = 0.028, 95% CI [1.1 5.518]). Conclusion: While the mother's education level plays a key role in the nutrition plans and long-term feeding strategy, PUI status and hospital practices (lack of skin-to-skin and proper information) had a major negative impact on breastfeeding rates in the hospital.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; exclusive breastfeeding; human milk; infants’ feeding; infants’ nutrition.

MeSH terms

Breast Feeding
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Mothers
Pandemics*
Poland / epidemiology

Grants and funding

This research was financed by the “Development and conduct of a nationwide interdisciplinary survey on breastfeeding promotion in Poland” project granted by “Excellence Initiative — Research University” Programme (PSP :501-D134-20-0004319) by the University of Warsaw and by Medical University of Warsaw (NZI/1/UW.I.01/N/21).