Breastfeeding experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain:a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has afected reproductive and perinatal health both through the infection itself and, indirectly, as a consequence of changes in medical care, social policy or social and economic circumstances. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of the pandemic and of the measures adopted on breastfeeding initiation and maintenance. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted by means in-depth semi-structured interviews, until reaching data saturation. The study was conducted between the months of January to May 2021. Participants were recruited by midwives from the Primary Care Centres of the Andalusian provinces provinces of Seville, Cádiz, Huelva, Granada, and Jaén. The interviews were conducted via phone call and were subsequently transcribed and analysed by means of refexive inductive thematic analysis, using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Results: A total of 30 interviews were conducted. Five main themes and ten subthemes were developed, namely: Information received (access to the information, fgure who provided the information), unequal support from the professionals during the pandemic (support to postpartum hospitalization, support received from Primary Health Care during the postpartum period), social and family support about breastfeeding (support groups, family support), impact of confnement and of social restriction measures (positive infuence on breastfeeding, infuence on bonding with the newborn), emotional efect of the pandemic (insecurity and fear related to contagion by coronavirus, feel‑ ings of loneliness). Conclusion: The use of online breastfeeding support groups through applications such as WhatsApp®, Facebook® or Instagram® has provided important breastfeeding information and support sources. The main fgure identifed that has provided formal breastfeeding support during this period was that of the midwife. In addition, the social restric‑ tions inherent to the pandemic have exerted a positive efect for women in bonding and breastfeeding, as a conse‑ quence of the increase in the time spent at their homes and in the family nucleus co-living.