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Open Access 01-12-2023 | COVID-19 | Research

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic: a subset of the IMAgiNE EURO cross-sectional study

Authors: Rada Artzi-Medvedik, Ilaria Mariani, Emanuelle Pessa Valente, Marzia Lazzerini, Ilana Azulay Chertok

Published in: International Breastfeeding Journal | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Background

Evidence has shown that restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected breastfeeding support and outcomes in hospitals in many countries. The aims of the study were to describe exclusive breastfeeding rates and identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge among women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel.

Methods

A cross-sectional online anonymous survey based on WHO standards for improving quality of maternal and newborn care in health facilities was conducted among a sample of women who gave birth to a healthy singleton infant in Israel during the pandemic (between March 2020 and April 2022). The socio-ecological approach was employed to examine intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and community/society factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge according to women perspectives.

Results

Among the 235 Israeli participants, 68.1% exclusively breastfed, 27.7% partially breastfed, and 4.2% did not breastfeed at discharge. Results of the adjusted logistic regression model showed that factors significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding were the intrapersonal factor of multiparity (adjusted OR 2.09; 95% Confidence Interval 1.01,4.35) and the organizational factors of early breastfeeding in the first hour (aOR 2.17; 95% CI 1.06,4.45), and rooming-in (aOR 2.68; 95% CI 1.41,5.07).

Conclusions

Facilitating early breastfeeding initiation and supporting rooming-in are critical to promoting exclusive breastfeeding. These factors, reflecting hospital policies and practices, along with parity, are significantly associated with breastfeeding outcomes and highlight the influential role of the maternity environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternity care in hospitals should follow evidence-based breastfeeding recommendations also during the pandemic, promoting early exclusive breastfeeding and rooming-in among all women, with particular attention to providing lactation support to primiparous women.

Trial registration

Clinical Trials NCT04847336.

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Title: Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic: a subset of the IMAgiNE EURO cross-sectional study
Authors: Rada Artzi-Medvedik
Ilaria Mariani
Emanuelle Pessa Valente
Marzia Lazzerini
Ilana Azulay Chertok
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: COVID-19
Care
Lactation
Published in: International Breastfeeding Journal / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4358
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-023-00568-y

2024 ESC Congress

Springer Medicine

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic: a subset of the IMAgiNE EURO cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

2024 ESC Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

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