Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mothers’ Breastfeeding Status

Objective: This study was conducted descriptively to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the breastfeeding status of mothers with infants aged 0-24 months.Methods: The study was conducted at the Ankara City Hospital in the breastfeeding support/relactation clinic and mother-infant bonding service between December 2021 and May 2022. A sample of 511 mothers who applied to the clinics mentioned during the study period, agreed to participate in the research, and met the research criteria was formed. Research data were collected using a Descriptive Data Form.Results: The average age of the mothers was 28±4.7 (18-44), and 51.66% had a caesarian delivery. Approximately 54.41% of the mothers were university graduates. During the pandemic, it was determined that 13.0% of the mothers experienced breastfeeding-related problems, and all mothers who experienced problems hesitated to go to the hospital. It was found that 12.14% of the mothers had COVID-19 during pregnancy, and 69.70% of the mothers who had COVID-19 did not continue to breastfeed. The rate of mothers who stated that they did not receive any information about breastfeeding during the COVID-19 period was 57.6%, and the rate of mothers who had breastfeeding problems after quarantine was 17.50%. During their hospital stay due to COVID-19, it was determined that 48.7% of the mothers breastfed their babies, 41.0% fed expressed breast milk and formula,and 10.3% fed only formula.Conclusions: It was observed that mothers needed breastfeeding counselling during the pandemic.