BREASTFEEDING ATTITUDES AND EXPERIENCES OF BREASTFEEDING WOMEN INFECTED WITH COVID-19: A MIXED METHODS STUDY

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to learn more about the attitudes and experiences of breastfeeding women infected with COVID-19. Method: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used to conduct the study. The study included breastfeeding women who presented COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19, and who sought care at a community health center in a province located in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Quantitative and qualitative data for the study were collected online between July 2021 and February 2022. Data for the study were collected using the 'Socio-demographic Information Form', the 'Breastfeeding Attitude Scale' and the 'Semi-structured Interview Form'. Data were collected from 82 women for the quantitative part and seven women for the qualitative part. Before the research began, study approval was obtained from the TR Ministry of Health and ethical approval was granted by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Ondokuz Mayıs University (25 June 2021/ OMU KAEK2021/316). Results: The number of children, age of the baby, breastfeeding initiation and nutritional status of the baby were found to influence breastfeeding attitudes. The overall mean score of the breastfeeding attitude rating scale was 91.7710.63. Five themes were identified as a result of the content analysis: "Women's feelings during the disease," "How the disease affects the babies," "Woman-baby contact," "COVID -19 and breastfeeding," and "Status of support for women".Conclusions and Suggestions: It was found that women's attitudes towards breastfeeding during the disease process are moderate, that they experience considerable anxiety during this time, and that the support they receive affects both their psychological state and their attitudes towards breastfeeding. During this process, continuous online or phone support may improve women's attitudes towards breastfeeding.