Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and COVID-19 Pandemic Anxiety in Post-Partum Mothers

Abstract

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people worldwide, and this condition is also prone to postpartum maternal circumstances. This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on maternal anxiety and breastfeeding confidence during postpartum. This study has a quantitative, cross-sectional design and includes 1018 mothers with children aged 0-24 months (July-September 2021). The instrument used in this study was Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). The bivariate analysis found a significant association between anxiety in COVID-19 and changes in income (p-value 0.008), number of children (p-value 0.09), and age of children (p-value 0.029). According to the findings of multivariate logistic regression, maternal confidence in breastfeeding was associated with the number of children (OR=0.62; 95%CI=0.42-0.91) and early breastfeeding initiation shortly after delivery (OR=1.47; 95%CI=1.11-1.95). Anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with the number of children (OR=0.58), changes in income (OR=1.98; 95%CI 1.34-2.95), type of delivery (OR=1.53; 95%CI 1.4-2.24), child age (OR=0.70; 95%CI = 0.49-0.99), and having been diagnosed with COVID-19 (OR=0.65; 95%CI = 0.44-0.97). Breastfeeding confidence is connected to the number of children and the history of Early Breastfeeding Initiation (EBI). The following interventions should include evidence-based practices and minimal birthing measures to reduce maternal anxiety and improve breastfeeding success.