Understanding Women, Infant and Children Feeding Decisions in Emergencies: The Case of COVID-19 and the Formula Shortage

Background: The advantages of breastfeeding and its role in emergencies are undeniable. Studies show that many women in developed countries choose formula over breastmilk, even in emergencies. Nevertheless, no one knows if postpartum women under the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program turned out to breastfeed or re-lactate their infants during these crises. This study aims to better understand WIC participants' perceptions about breastfeeding their babies in emergencies. Methods: A chi-square test of independence was used to assess the association between breastfeeding choice and demographic characteristics and potential covariates of respondents. A post hoc analysis using Dunn's multiple comparisons test was adopted to identify specific group differences after employing the Kruskal-Wallis test. The logistic regression was likewise employed to examine the likelihood that respondents would prefer any of the three feeding choices (breast milk, formula, or both). Results: Infant feeding choice during emergencies depends on age, education, ethnicity, race, breastfeeding knowledge, home duration, support during crisis, re-lactation, formula convenience, and breastfeeding status. However, it is independent of whether a study participant enrolled in a WIC program during pregnancy. Conclusion: The study found a significant difference between the median breastfeeding rate before COVID-19 and the formula shortage. However, there was no significant difference between the median breastfeeding rate during COVID-19 and before COVID-19 as well as during COVID-19 and the formula Shortage. The study suggests that WIC programs should reinforce the benefits and convenience of breastfeeding, especially during emergencies, to reduce reliance on formula. Keywords: Breastfeeding, COVID-19, Formula Shortage, Women Infants and Children, Emergencies. DOI : 10.7176/JHMN/117-05 Publication date: December 30th 2024