AUTHOR=Wesołowska Aleksandra , Walczak Bartłomiej , Kalita-Kurzyńska Kinga , Mołas Aleksandra , Bzikowska-Jura Agnieszka 

TITLE=Feeding Strategies in Newborns and Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic—Polish Cross-Sectional Study

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605590

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605590

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> We aimed to analyze factors affecting feeding strategies of newborns and infants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The cross-sectional study using a self-developed CAWI questionnaire was conducted between February and April 2021 among Polish mothers. The analysis included responses from 1,485 women who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The inferential analysis uses Parson’s chi-square test and the series of logistic models. The data were weighted to adjust age and educational level distribution.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> When hospitalized, lack of skin-to-skin contact (OR = 0.094; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, 95% CI [0.057 0.156]), not being informed about direct breastfeeding in the pandemic (OR = 0.195, <italic>p</italic> = 0.006, 95% CI [0.61 0.62]) and being suspected for COVID-19 (OR = 0.379, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, 95% CI [0.223 0.642]) reduced the probability of breastfeeding. Feeding plans and feeding after leaving the hospital were impacted only by the educational level (OR = 2.463, <italic>p</italic> = 0.028, 95% CI [1.1 5.518]).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> While the mother’s education level plays a key role in the nutrition plans and long-term feeding strategy, PUI status and hospital practices (lack of skin-to-skin and proper information) had a major negative impact on breastfeeding rates in the hospital.</p>